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The RFEF has published the VAR audio taken after Lamine Yamal’s controversial ghost goal in Barcelona’s defeat in the Clásico against Real Madrid.
Described as a ‘transparency exercise’, the refereeing body in Spain has uncovered the discussion between referee Soto Grado and the VAR officials.
Xavi’s side suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat against their fierce rivals at the weekend after Jude Bellingham crashed into the net in injury time, leaving Los Blancos 11 points clear at the top of LaLiga and on the way to winning the title.
Andreas Christensen and Fermín López scored either side of Vinicius Junior’s penalty and Barcelona twice took the lead, only for Lucas Vásquez to score the equalizer and set up a grandstand finish that saw Bellingham crash home on the cusp of the 90 minutes.
The visitors were angered by a goal they believed should have been awarded, but Yamal’s shot from close range appeared to have crossed the line.
Lamine Yamal saw a controversial ghost goal not awarded in Barcelona’s Clasico loss
Yamal’s shot seemed to have crossed the line but the goal did not come after the VAR control.
Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin deflected the ball near the near post, but subsequent replays showed Yamal’s clever shot from a corner could have been legal.
Less than 24 hours later, the RFEF published on its official page X the full conversation, which lasted just over six minutes, between the match referees.
After Yamal’s effort, an assistant referee was heard saying “bloody hell” twice before suggesting that a corner be taken despite the confusion. The VAR referee then informed the referee that the check would be carried out.
Barcelona players gathered around Grado and called for the goal to be awarded, although the referee told Ilkay Gundogan that no goal-line technology existed.
One of the VAR officials said: “Stop at the point of contact when it hits Lunin’s gloves and turn it back.” Another then added that they would carry out a ‘360’ check to look for concrete evidence that the entire ball had crossed the line.
However, a new angle to the incident emerged where Yamal’s shot (below left) appeared to have been legal, with goalkeeper Andriy Lunin pushing the ball away behind the line.
The referee explained to the outraged Barcelona players that there was no technology on the goal line
Jude Bellingham crashed into the roof of the net in added time to seal a dramatic victory.
“Lunin’s body is covering us,” said an official. ‘Wait a second, we’re still looking for the evidence. This one doesn’t work for me (first angle), neither does this one (second angle), neither does this one (third angle), keep it up…
‘Neither this one (fourth angle), nor this one (fifth angle), nor this one (sixth angle).’
Grado told the VAR room to carefully review every angle and avoid rushing a decision.
He was then informed that the VAR had examined all possible angles.
“César, César, we are going to restart with a corner kick,” a VAR official finally confirmed. “We don’t have any evidence that the ball went in, so corner kick.” We have no evidence that the ball went in, therefore, corner kick.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed the club could push for a repeat clash, while manager Xavi said the decision was a “shame”.
