A Spanish media revealed a conversation between the main referee and the VAR, during Barça-Real last October. And the Catalan press is crying scandal.
Remember, it was late October. Real Madrid won on FC Barcelona (1-2) in the first Clasico of the season, thanks to a double from Jude Bellingham at the end of the match. During this meeting, there was a penalty not whistled in favor of the Blaugranas, just before half-time, for a collision between Aurélien Tchouaméni and Ronald Araujo in the area, on a corner.
Why talk about this action again? Because a Spanish media outlet, Jijantes, reveals the conversation between the main referee and the VAR about this clash. And the Catalan press cried foul, because one of the referees had seen that there was a little something.
Two referees do not see a fault, but the third…
At real speed, the main referee, as is the procedure, communicated what he saw to his assessors. “Nothing, nothing, he grabs it and jumps, just like that”, commented Gil Manzano. It is then up to the VAR to look at the images, and to see if an incident has escaped the vigilance of the central referee. Here, Cuadra Fernandez agrees with her colleague: “He puts one hand on him and the other tries to back away. He is controlled, he gets his hands on him, of course, but there is never, ever a penalty. »
There is, however, a third man, Jesus González Fuertes, who assists Cuadra Fernandez with the VAR, and sees something “borderline” in him, a small collision. But he is quickly cut off by his colleagues, who quickly put an end to the video verification. At this point in the match, Barça led 1-0. A penalty could have allowed the Catalans to lead 2-0.
🚨Gerard Romero’s leaks of VAR conversations in Araujo’s Clásico shot
🗣️ “He put his hand on him, of course, but it was a normal contact. There is no penalty kick”pic.twitter.com/47hqgGIM7G
— (@harryfcb21) January 25, 2024
