Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
The refereeing selections throughout Barcelona’s 1-0 win towards Rayo Vallecano sparked controversy, significantly with the referee Melero Lopez awarding a penalty to Barça and disallowing a aim for the guests.
The turning level of the match got here when Inigo Martinez was prevented from reaching a nook kick as a consequence of Pathe Ciss’s maintain on him.
Initially, Lopez didn’t sign for a foul, however after being suggested by VAR official Diaz de Mera to evaluation the incident, he reconsidered and pointed to the penalty spot. This resolution performed a decisive position in shaping the consequence.
VAR dialog
Following the match, the VAR audio recordings have been made public, revealing the trade between the on-field referee and the VAR room.
The dialogue targeted on whether or not the foul was clear sufficient to warrant a penalty, with Lopez finally concluding that Ciss had held Martinez with out making any try and play the ball.
VAR: “Mario, I like to recommend an OFR so that you can worth a attainable penalty.”
Referee: “Excellent, I’m going to see it. Give me the picture as a result of I need to see the grabbing. It was Pahe Ciss, wasn’t it?
🗣 AUDIO REVISIÓN VAR
🗓 Jornada 24 | Primera División
⚽ @FCBarcelona_es 🆚 @RayoVallecano | 24’#ArbitrajeRFEF | @CTARFEF pic.twitter.com/uJSvjwEIli
— RFEF (@rfef) February 17, 2025
“Okay good I’m going to take a look at it. The APP is clear, proper? There’s nothing else, proper?
“It’s quick however the ball comes out or nothing, proper? There’s nothing else.
“Okay, give me the entire dynamic. Vale is just not on the ball. The ball is just not within the zone but it surely’s clear.
“The ball is just not within the zone but it surely’s clear. Along with his left hand, he’s holding him by the abdomen. He doesn’t have a look at the ball.”
After fastidiously reviewing the footage, he determined to award the penalty and problem a yellow card to the Rayo Vallecano participant.
“I’m going to sign penalty and yellow card. Thanks.”
Refereeing debates are nothing new in La Liga, and this match was one more instance of how VAR can each make clear and complicate officiating selections.
Whereas some noticed the penalty name as justified, others seen it as one more contentious second in a league the place officiating stays a continuing level of dialogue.
