The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has officially responded to Jose Mourinho's criticisms, confirming that VAR acted professionally and correctly regarding the penalty incident in the Betis-Real Madrid clash.
- CTA confirmed Bartra did not commit an infringement during the penalty.
- Nico Williams' goal was upheld as there was no evidence the ball left the pitch.
- The red card for Sangante and the annulled goal for Pape Gueye were deemed correct.
The tension between tactical geniuses and officiating bodies has reached a boiling point in La Liga. Jose Mourinho recently ignited a firestorm during a press conference, questioning the competence of referee Iglesias Villanueva and the VAR team during the Betis vs. Real Madrid match. Mourinho specifically questioned why a penalty was not retaken, suggesting a lack of knowledge or will on the part of the VAR officials.
In a detailed analysis published in 'Tiempo de Revisión', the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) dismantled these claims. The committee noted that when Kylian Mbappé took the penalty and Valles saved it, defender Bartra cleared the rebound. The CTA clarified that at the moment of the kick, Bartra had one foot on the ground, meaning he was not 'in the air' according to IFAB regulations.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that the reliance on microscopic frame-by-frame analysis is creating a divide between the 'spirit of the game' and the 'letter of the law.' When managers like Mourinho challenge these decisions, they are often fighting against a rigid regulatory framework that leaves little room for human interpretation.
"The modern game is no longer judged by what the eye sees in real-time, but by what the software proves in retrospect."
The CTA's report didn't stop at the Madrid controversy. It also addressed the red card given to Sangante in the Espanyol-Sevilla match. The committee ruled that Sangante's trip of the forward was a clear case of DOGSO (Denial of an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity), justifying the dismissal. Furthermore, in the Athletic-Atlético match, the goal by Nico Williams was validated after VAR found no evidence that the ball had completely crossed the touchline.
Finally, the committee addressed the disallowed goal by Pape Gueye in the Villarreal-Deportivo match. The ruling stated that Villarreal players were positioned less than one meter from the wall during a direct free kick, which constitutes an infringement, making the referee's decision to award an indirect free kick correct.
| Incident | Controversy | CTA Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid Penalty | Bartra's Position | Correct (No Infringement) |
| Nico Williams Goal | Ball Out of Bounds | Correct (Goal Legal) |
| Sangante Red Card | Severity of Foul | Correct (Red Card Justified) |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was Mourinho's primary complaint regarding the VAR?
Mourinho questioned whether the VAR officials were ignorant of the rules or simply unwilling to apply them regarding the retaking of a penalty.
2. Why was Pape Gueye's goal disallowed?
The goal was annulled because Villarreal players violated the distance rule by standing closer than one meter to the defensive wall.
