Controversy in Madrid: Was Vinícius Junior Foul Worth a Penalty? A Referee Expert Breaks It Down
4 January 2026
Match Controversy and Referee Verdict
A controversial moment sparked broad debate in the sixth minute of Real Madrid vs Real Betis in La Liga's 18th round, as Madrid players demanded a penalty after Brazilian Vinícius Junior went down in the box.
Expert Opinion and Decision
The debate was swiftly settled, according to referee expert Perez Burol, who analyzed the incident on Radio Marca and affirmed the decision was correct and that there was no infringement warranting a penalty.
"There is nothing to penalize," Burol said. "The Brazilian clearly simulated, falling between Betis defenders, and the moment is closer to a yellow card for deceit."
Burol also noted the contact was incidental, with no push or illegal challenge from Betis defenders, and argued that play should have continued as the most sensible call early in the match.
Punchline 1: If drama earned penalties, Vinícius would be running a penalty factory by now.
Punchline 2: In football, the only thing more dramatic than a dive is a TV cliffhanger—finale without a replay clause.
