Referee Drama and a Curious Card: Cancelo’s Yellow in Barcelona vs Albacete Sparks Copa del Rey Debate
3 February 2026
Match context
Barcelona faced Albacete Balompié in the Copa del Rey quarterfinal, a game that produced more dispute over refereeing than clear-cut chances.
Key moment and official verdict
In the 40th minute, Joao Cancelo challenged hard for the ball, making contact that drew protests from Albacete as they urged the referee to show a second yellow and dismiss him.
Cancelo had already been booked in the 15th minute after a heavy challenge near Bernabéu, intended to disrupt a quick Albacete counterattack.
The officiating expert, Perez Burrol, said on Marca's program that it was a tussle for the ball with no deliberate intent from the Portuguese defender.
He added that it was a challenge for the ball, not an act deserving a second yellow.
The image on the night showed the players reacting as the controversy grew, with fans debating the decision long after the final whistle.
Punchline 1: If the whistle had a sense of humor, it would have laughed at this call and saved us from the replay highlights.
Punchline 2: In football, even the ball must file a report after every controversial touch—thank goodness for goal-line tech, which occasionally acts as the crowd's therapist.
