In a match that ended in a 1-1 draw between Real Betis and Valencia on Friday night, controversy erupted over a non-awarded penalty to Real Betis. The incident, which many fans and analysts deemed a clear penalty, saw no intervention from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), leading to widespread outrage among the Betis faithful.
The contentious moment occurred in the 75th minute when Real Betis forward Vítor Roque was brought down inside the penalty area by Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby. Despite the apparent foul, the on-field referee, Carlos del Cerro Grande, waved play on, and VAR did not prompt a review.
In response to the growing criticism, LaLiga released a statement explaining the rationale behind VAR’s non-intervention. According to the league, the VAR team, led by Alejandro Hernández Hernández, determined that the contact between Diakhaby and Roque did not constitute a “clear and obvious error” by the on-field referee. Therefore, in accordance with VAR protocols, no review was initiated.
The statement further emphasized that VAR is designed to correct clear and obvious mistakes in four specific situations: goals, penalty decisions, direct red card incidents, and cases of mistaken identity. In this instance, the VAR officials concluded that the referee’s decision did not meet the threshold for intervention.
However, this explanation has done little to quell the frustration among Real Betis supporters. Many have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction, with some accusing the league of bias and inconsistency in the application of VAR. Former referee and current analyst Iturralde González weighed in on the controversy, stating that the incident was “a clear penalty” and that VAR should have intervened.
This incident adds to the ongoing debate about the effectiveness and consistency of VAR in LaLiga. While the technology aims to assist referees in making accurate decisions, its application has often been a source of contention among players, coaches, and fans alike.
As the season progresses, calls for greater transparency and consistency in VAR decisions are likely to intensify. For Real Betis, the hope is that future matches will see a more equitable application of the technology, ensuring that critical decisions are made fairly and accurately.
