The VAR audio of Rodrygo’s penalty incident against Athletic Club | OneFootball

During the match between Athletic Club and Real Madrid, there was a key moment in the 13th minute that sparked controversy among Madrid fans.

This moment involved a possible penalty for Real Madrid, following a challenge between Gorosabel and Rodrygo. It was in this sequence that Kylian Mbappe’s goal was ruled out for offside, adding to the drama.

The referee in charge of the match, Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez, initially halted the game to allow for a VAR review.

However, the focus of the review was not on the offside decision regarding Mbappe’s goal but on the possibility of a penalty against Gorosabel for his challenge on Rodrygo.

The conversation on VAR

The VAR team alerted Sanchez Martinez, recommending that he review the incident for a potential foul on Rodrygo. They clarified that Gorosabel “never touches the ball,” implying that a foul might have been committed during the challenge.

To ensure a thorough review, the referee requested several video angles of the incident at normal speed. After examining the footage, he decided not to award a penalty.

Sanchez Martinez communicated his decision by stating that he would restart the game with a goal kick, confirming that the goal was ruled out for offside.

The VAR team then confirmed that Mbappe had been in an offside position when the ball was played to him, thus justifying the disallowed goal.

“Okay, I’m not going to call anything. I’m going to restart with a goal kick for offside. It was offside, right Jorge,” said the referee, while the VAR confirmed that “it was offside.”

The situation was a reminder of how finely decisions can be balanced during a match, with technology playing a crucial role in determining the fairness of calls.

While Madrid fans felt the penalty should have been awarded, the referee and VAR found no clear evidence of a foul, leading to the final decision. This incident adds to the ongoing debate over the consistency of officiating in top-flight football.