The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), part of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has released the audio files from the VAR room during the Clasico, which has not failed to spark controversy.
Between a penalty for Real Madrid, a penalty not awarded to Lamine Yamal, a yellow card given to Eduardo Camavinga, a goal judged as not having crossed the line, and other contentious decisions, fury has seized the Barcelona contingent, and more particularly coach Xavi Hernandez and president Joan Laporta.
FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta demanded the audio and video recordings from the VAR room and threatened to take legal action if it was proven a mistake had been made. Laporta said there was also precedent for asking to replay the Clasico.
A huge controversy
In the broadcast audio, VAR can be heard telling referee Cesar Soto Grado that there is no clear angle for the ball to have crossed the line. Meanwhile, the referees see clear evidence of a penalty for Lucas Vazquez, as Soto Grado can be heard saying “nothing, nothing, nothing” when Fermin makes contact with Antonio Rudiger in the penalty area.
In all likelihood, Laporta and Barcelona have little hope of playing the match again, but this attitude is more of a way to score a point and put pressure on the officials. This is also a characteristic attitude of the Real Madrid TV channel since the start of the season, and Laporta may think that he must react.
