MADRID – After a Lamine Yamal goal was disallowed by the video assistant referee (VAR) in Barcelona’s 3-2 loss at Real Madrid, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez criticised the officiating in La Liga, which does not use goal-line technology.
Vinicius Jr and Lucas Vazquez’s goals helped Real equalise twice after Andreas Christensen and Fermin Lopez had put Barca ahead on April 21.
Yamal’s effort in the 28th minute was reviewed by VAR for several minutes, as it appeared to cross the line before Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin cleared it. The goal was disallowed and VAR awarded a corner to Barca.
Jude Bellingham scored the decider in the 91st minute, securing Real’s fourth consecutive win over the Catalan side. Second-placed Barca trail by 11 points, a deficit that will be difficult to overturn with six games remaining.
“We can’t control them. These are refereeing actions. The team are doing very well. We competed very well, we were better than Real on their own pitch and I think we deserved the three points in every way,” said Xavi.
“My feeling today is one of maximum injustice. Goes without saying, everyone saw it. My feeling is that today’s match was not fair.”
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen agreed with his coach.
“It’s shameful for football, I don’t have the words,” he said. “There’s so much money in this world and there’s no money for what’s most important.”
Barcelona president Joan Laporta went one step further on April 22, saying the club will demand a replay if they can prove officials made a mistake by not allowing Yamal’s “ghost goal”.
“We will take all the necessary steps to reverse the situation, without ruling out any legal action that may be necessary,” he added in a video published by Barcelona.
La Liga is the only one of Europe’s big five leagues not to use goal-line technology. After Barcelona fans criticised La Liga for lacking the technology, chief Javier Tebas responded on X by sharing several reports of past incidents where the technology was shown to be inaccurate saying, “no comment”.
Xavi’s counterpart Carlo Ancelotti said he was delighted with his Real side after they beat Manchester City on April 17 on penalties to reach the Champions League semi-finals and then produced a late Clasico winner.
“I’m very proud, because they were two very demanding games,” said the coach. “Now we have to prepare for the final part of the season, but we are very well positioned.”
Bellingham, Real’s top scorer with 21 goals across all competitions, netted twice in Madrid’s Clasico win in October and is shining in his first season in Spain as Los Blancos march towards the title.
“(Real) have had an extraordinary league. They have lost just one game, they’ve almost wrapped it up,” admitted Xavi. REUTERS, AFP
