VAR Shakes Up Copa del Rey Final: Penalty Called, Then Cancelled in Controversial Moment
Barcelona snatched victory in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday night, defeating Real Madrid 3-2 in a thrilling extra-time clash at La Cartuja. But the match wasn’t without its drama, particularly around a hotly debated penalty decision involving Raphinha.
It all unfolded late in normal time when Barcelona was awarded a penalty after Raphinha appeared to be fouled. The crowd erupted, and it looked like Barcelona was on the verge of sealing the win. However, the referee, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, was summoned to the VAR monitor to review the incident.
The VAR, González Fuertes, explained to the referee that Raphinha’s foot was already dragging before contact was made, suggesting it wasn’t a genuine foul. He also pointed out that neither of Raphinha’s legs had made contact with the defender.
After reviewing the footage, de Burgos Bengoetxea reversed his call, cancelling the penalty and giving Raphinha a yellow card instead. This decision sparked outrage among Barcelona fans, who felt their team had been robbed of a crucial goal.
The controversy surrounding the refereeing decisions added another layer of intensity to an already heated final. It’s left fans wondering: Did the VAR make the right call?
