Barcelona requires a replay of El Clasico if a VAR error is detected

Barcelona President Joan Laporta asserted that Sunday’s El Clasico match with Real Madrid needs to be replayed, if it proves to be VAR’s error in denying Lamine Yamal’s goal at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Barcelona President Joan Laporta affirmed that the El Clasico match with Real Madrid needs to be replayed if it is proven that VAR was at fault when denying Lamine Yamal's goal.Barcelona President Joan Laporta affirmed that the El Clasico match with Real Madrid needs to be replayed if it is proven that VAR was at fault when denying Lamine Yamal’s goal.

Yamal’s effort was saved by Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin on the goal line in the first half, when the score was 1-1. When La Liga does not have goal line technology, VAR must step in and determine that the ball has not crossed the goal line. Real Madrid then won 3-2, thanks to Jude Bellingham’s winning goal in injury time – a result that helped them move 11 points ahead of Barca and secure the title before the last 6 matches.

Barcelona.jpgMultiple shots appeared to show the ball had crossed the line.

President Laporta said in a statement on Monday: “There were several controversial situations in the match, but among them there was one that was important and could have changed the result of the match. I’m referring to Lamine Yamal’s “ghost goal”. As a club, we want to be sure about what happened. For that reason, we are making an immediate request for a comprehensive collection of footage and audio from the incident. If, after this document has been analyzed, the Club becomes aware that errors have been made in that process, we will take all available measures to reverse the situation without excluding any necessary legal action. . If it is confirmed that it was a legal goal, we will go ahead and ask for the match to be replayed, as happened in another European match due to a VAR error.”

Barcelona111.jpgMultiple shots appeared to show the ball had crossed the line.

The match in the First Division of Belgian football between Anderlecht and Genk was required to be completely replayed earlier this season, after a VAR error led to the incorrect application of match rules. However, the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the decision, and the match was not replayed. But comparing the two cases, if in Belgium it was just a situation where a player entered the penalty area before a teammate took a penalty kick, then the situation in the Super Classic match was much more serious, because of the direct impact on the penalty area. the result of the match and beyond, possibly the race to win a leading world championship like La Liga.

Last year, in Spain, a judge ruled that VAR had not provided the referee with all possible images of the goal awarded to Atletico Madrid in a 3-3 draw against Espanyol, who was eventually relegated. Griezman’s goal was then recognized, but other footage seemed to show that the ball had not crossed the goal line, but the VAR team did not show it to the referee.

Barcelona11.jpgMultiple shots appeared to show the ball had crossed the line.

Coach Xavi Hernandez and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen both said that the lack of goal-line technology is a “shame” for one of the best tournaments in Europe. La Liga. Coach Xavi also alleged that since the first match of the season, at Getafe, he felt every important decision was against Barca – the team looks set to lose the La Liga title to Real Madrid in the coming weeks. .

President Laporta also said there were “many other incidents” during the match that Barca did not agree with and “may have been considered by VAR”. He also shared the same opinion with coach Xavi, adding: “We were forced to take this strong action after encountering many different incidents on the field, which put us and others at a disadvantage.” but in favor of our opponents. Added together, those incidents reflect the difference in points at the top of the table in La Liga.”