Spanish Referee Committee validates VAR decision to annul Betis goal

The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has officially upheld the decision to annul a goal scored by Giovani Lo Celso for Real Betis during their match against FC Barcelona. The committee ruled that the VAR intervention was correct because 'Cucho' Hernández committed a punishable handball by making a 'deliberate movement of the arm towards the ball' during the same attacking phase.

The decision has sparked significant controversy regarding refereeing standards in LaLiga. Audio recordings and video footage revealed that the on-field referee, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, requested the VAR review specifically because Barcelona players, including Pedri, were protesting the handball. This led to criticisms of 'on-demand VAR,' with some analysts suggesting that players are influencing officiating decisions.

While the CTA described the referee's initial failure to call the handball as a 'clear and manifest error,' the incident has fueled tensions between clubs. Real Madrid's club television, RMTV, criticized the officiating, claiming that Barcelona players effectively act as referees by deciding which plays are reviewed.