Spanish football refereeing controversies

Spanish football continues to face persistent refereeing controversies despite the implementation of technological advancements like video assistant referees (VAR), semi-automated offside technology, and ball chips. While officials are better compensated and conditioned, issues regarding biased decision-making and a lack of trust in the system remain.

Recent tensions centered on a LaLiga match between Real Betis and FC Barcelona, where referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea faced criticism for an annulled goal by Betis player Lo Celso. Following a request for a review by Barcelona player Pedri, De Burgos Bengoetxea was captured on ‘RefCam’ instructing the VAR official to ‘Check the hand, which is what they are asking me for.’ Former referee Eduardo Iturralde González criticized the interaction as ‘VAR a la carta’ (VAR to order), arguing that field referees should not request specific reviews based on player demands.

The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has since officially upheld the decision to annul the goal. The committee ruled 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 attacking phase. While the CTA described the referee’s failure to call the handball initially as a ‘clear and manifest error,’ the incident has intensified scrutiny. Real Madrid’s club television, RMTV, criticized the officiating, claiming that Barcelona players effectively act as referees by deciding which plays are reviewed.