Penalty drama and a butcher of a ref: Osasuna vs Real Madrid sparks VAR debate

Match events

Osasuna went into halftime with a 1-0 lead over Real Madrid in a La Liga clash.

The Osasuna goal came from a penalty converted by Ante Budimir in the 38th minute.

The 'Archivio VAR' account on X, known for tracking debatable refereeing calls, said the Osasuna penalty was correct.

VAR technology was forced to rescue the on-field referee, Quintero Gonzalez.

It also noted that Asensio failed to clear the ball and that Thibaut Courtois collided with Budimir, earning the spot-kick.

The crackdown by Quintero Gonzalez started with a yellow card in Budimir's direction for simulation.

The referee, nicknamed 'The Butcher' for his frequent cautions and dismissals, remained at the centre of the debate.

Punchline 1: If penalties had a dating profile, this one would say, "I’m a high-stakes moment—brought to you by VAR."

Punchline 2: And remember, in football as in life, when in doubt, blame the butcher—with a smile on the scoreboard.