The recent El Clasico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid was filled to the brink with controversy. As usual, the heated rivalry brought alongside it another case of a lot of unhappy onlookers. This time around, it is the camp from Barcelona who are not exactly pleased with the officiating from the game.
From wrongly disallowed goals to inconsistencies in the awarding of penalties, Barcelona believe they have every right to be questioning the officiating in the game and the errors that came alongside it. Despite VAR being present, Barça believe that key elements and images have been misused to misdirect proceedings in the game.
Even Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona, has shared his sentiments following the game. He has even requested that all the evidence and information processed during the check for Lamine Yamal’s ‘ghost goal’ be provided to clarify the situation and if Barcelona manage to find any sort of error, the club may even request a rematch given the consequences of the result on the La Liga title race.
Moreover, he even referred to some of the precedents for such a request in the past. As highlighted by SPORT, Laporta’s example was the inclusion of a European game between Anderlecht and Genk. Due to a refereeing error, the Disciplinary Council of the Belgian League determined that the match should be replayed. However, due to the intervention of the BAS in Belgium, that was overturned.
Over in Spain, the encounter between Atletico Madrid and Espanyol brought about a similarly inconclusive matter. A game that could have potentially changed the course of Espanyol’s future in La Liga, was decided by a goal that was considered to have been incorrectly given to Atletico Madrid in a situation similar to Lamine Yamal’s ghost goal.
While the Competition Committee dismissed their appeal, the ordinary justice ruled in their favor stating that VAR has clearly omitted some images. Espanyol continues to search for a solution, and that is why even the case in itself remains open.
Even apart from Lamine Yamal’s goal having been not given, there were other incidents as well. The penalty awarded to Lucas Vazquez was given but subsequent ones to the likes of Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal himself were completely disregarded by the VAR.
Ultimately, while there were other instances as well, Laporta’s claims seem understandable. However, given the complications that have come to be in the past whenever such an incident has been brought to life, it seems a bit unlikely that the committees that Barcelona will likely appeal to may end up giving a decision that benefits La Blaugrana.
