Real Madrid suffered a significant defeat against Barcelona in their recent El Clásico match, but the club expressed considerable frustration over a pivotal non-penalty call at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Barcelona secured a 2-0 victory with goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres. However, late in the second half, Real Madrid felt aggrieved when a penalty was not awarded following an incident between Jude Bellingham and Eric García.
Replays indicated that Bellingham was struck by an elbow from García inside the penalty area, resulting in a bleeding wound. The on-field referee, Alejandro Hernández Hernández, did not see the contact, and VAR opted not to intervene, concluding that no foul had been committed by the Barcelona defender.
While Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa briefly acknowledged the incident in his pre-match press conference without dwelling on it, Real Madrid TV was much more vocal. According to MD, the club’s official television channel launched a strong critique of the decision not to penalize García.
Real Madrid TV’s commentary stated: “One more from the Negreira League, one more demonstration that in La Liga there is no equal refereeing criteria. Real Madrid is always harmed by the VAR referees.”
Analyzing the Incident: Was Real Madrid’s Grievance Justified?
The contact from García was undeniably clumsy, though it appeared to be unintentional. Barcelona supporters likely held their breath while the replays were being reviewed, but the decision ultimately favored their team.
It is difficult to place significant blame on referee Hernández Hernández, as he could not have witnessed the contact between García and Bellingham. However, the fact that no penalty was given on the field made it challenging for VAR to overturn the decision, as it was not deemed a clear and obvious error. Nevertheless, this will undoubtedly fuel further resentment from Real Madrid.