In the recent match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid, the game was not only notable for Vinicius Jr.’s celebration after the first goal but also for the heated controversy surrounding the second penalty that was awarded to Real Madrid.
This decision directly led to Kylian Mbappe’s goal and became a major talking point.
The incident occurred with less than 20 minutes remaining in regular time. Vinicius had entered the penalty area, trying to send a pass back. His attempt was blocked by the Real Sociedad defence, and at first glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
However, the match referee, Martinez Munuera, was soon alerted by the officials in the VAR room. Upon reviewing the video footage, it became clear that something crucial had been overlooked on the field.
What caught the officials’ attention was a late challenge by Aramburu on Vinicius. Although the Brazilian had already released the ball, the defender stamped on his foot, leading to the decision to award a penalty to Real Madrid.
This moment of hesitation and subsequent review turned what seemed like an unimportant play into a game-changing decision. Mbappe converted the penalty, putting Real Madrid further ahead and intensifying the controversy around the match.
Toni Freixa reacts
The decision to award the penalty was met with significant backlash, particularly from those with connections to Barcelona.
Han convertido el VAR en una herramienta para adulterar la competición
— Toni Freixa (@tonifreixa) September 14, 2024
One of the most vocal critics was Toni Freixa, a former director at Barcelona. Taking to social media platform X, Freixa expressed his frustration with how VAR was used in this situation. He strongly criticised the decision, stating,
“What scoundrels they are. They have turned the VAR into a tool to adulterate the competition.” His comments reflect the broader sentiment among many who believe that the use of VAR in such cases may be unfairly favouring certain teams.
In this particular instance, the timing of the penalty decision and its potential influence on the outcome of the match only added fuel to the fire.
For Real Madrid, it was a crucial moment that helped secure the victory, but for others, especially those associated with Barcelona, it was another example of VAR being used in a manner that feels unjust.
