It was the moment that sent the Santiago Bernabéu into a fury. Nowadays, after the final whistle, Spain’s refereeing authority has broken its silence—and its verdict will do little to quiet the storm swirling around Real Madrid.
The Referees’ Technical Committee, or CTA in Spain, officially said that the foul on Kylian Mbappé during Real Madrid’s tense 1-1 draw with Girona was careless and should have been given a penalty. The Referees’ Technical Committee, known in Spain as the CTA, officially concluded that the foul on Kylian Mbappé during Real Madrid’s tense 1-1 draw with Girona was reckless—and, in their view, should have been awarded as a penalty.
But the committee also backed the VAR team’s choice to stay quiet, saying that the incident was open to interpretation and therefore did not meet the standard for a “clear and obvious error.” This decision is sure to raise eyebrows throughout La Liga.
The Event That Started It All
It was the 87th minute at the Bernabéu. Mbappé was charging into the penalty area from the right side, looking like he was about to win the game for his team. That’s when Brazilian defender Vitor Reis made contact.
The blow, which was an elbow directly to the Frenchman’s face, made Mbappé bleed above his right eyebrow. He needed medical help right away after the game, and reports say he needed a small procedure to close the wound.
Alberola Rojas, the referee, saw what happened and told the players to keep playing. The VAR booth, which was watching from the sidelines, did not get involved. The stadium went crazy.
What the CTA What They Said
The committee’s statement, which came out a few days after the match, made its point very clearly, even though many people thought that the rulebook and common sense had gone their separate ways.
The CTA said, “This is an action that can be seen in a number of ways.” “It could be seen as a result of the crash and the arm’s natural movement.”
But then came the confession. “However, it could also be seen as dangerous because it involved contact with the face. The player hit his opponent in the face with his arm outstretched, blocking the way. The CTA thinks that this is a crime that deserves punishment.
So, that’s a foul. A careless foul. A crime that is punishable by law. And still, no action. Why?
The committee said that VAR’s job is only to fix clear and obvious mistakes. In this case, the video officials were told to stay out of it because it was based on subjective interpretation.
Arbeloa is angry with Real Madrid. Takes the Lead
The Real Madrid camp’s response was quick and angry, even before the CTA made its decision.
After the final whistle, Álvaro Arbeloa, a former defender for Madrid who now works for the club, didn’t hold back. He said plainly, “It was a clear foul.” “You can tell it’s a pen from the moon. “But this is where we are.
Iturralde González, a referee analyst and former official, was also very clear in his writing for AS. He said, “For me, it’s a penalty,” and then he gave a harsh criticism of how VAR works in Spain: “The instructions given to video assistant referees say they shouldn’t get involved in these kinds of plays that are up for debate.”
That last line is probably the most damning of all. It’s not an accusation of bias; it’s an admission that the system is set up to allow for this kind of outcome.
A Result That Hurts
The draw put Real Madrid two points behind in the race for the title, and people in Madrid are still angry. When the final whistle blew, fans at the Bernabéu could be heard chanting against the Spanish Football Federation.
The CTA’s decision is very unsatisfactory because it confirms that Madrid had a case and defends the officials who chose not to act on it.
Mbappé is furious and stitched up, so the committee’s careful words probably won’t help him much.
