In a recent La Liga match, FC Barcelona secured a 2-0 victory against UD Las Palmas, despite controversial officiating from referees Cordero Vega and Del Cerro Grande (VAR). The match was marked by several disputed decisions, including a potential penalty on Raphinha and multiple uncalled fouls favoring Barcelona. Most notably, the officials caused a significant delay by reviewing a handball incident involving Eric García for over four minutes.
The controversial moment centered around a handball in the penalty area by Eric García. However, what made the review particularly puzzling was the clear offside position of Álex Muñoz, who also handled the ball during the same sequence. Despite the semi-automatic offside technology providing clear evidence, Del Cerro Grande still requested Cordero Vega to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor. To compensate for this unnecessary delay, eight additional minutes were added to the match.
Players and Coaches React to VAR Controversy
Eric García expressed his frustration in a post-match interview with TV3, stating, “It’s incomprehensible why they required a review when the offside was already clear – the play should have ended there.” He further added, “Given the events of this week, it’s not surprising that everything is being scrutinized more closely,” alluding to Real Madrid’s recent pressure on officiating decisions.
Referee’s Unusual Justification Raises Eyebrows
Perhaps the most bewildering aspect of the incident was Cordero Vega’s explanation to Las Palmas coach Diego Martínez. The referee remarkably stated, “The review process was correct because if there hadn’t been an offside, it would have been a foul.” When questioned about the lengthy review time, Vega’s response was even more surprising: “It’s so that people understand and don’t think we’re not being thorough.”
This incident highlights several key issues in modern football officiating:
• Excessive VAR interventions causing unnecessary delays
• Inconsistent application of technology
• Impact on match flow and player momentum
• Growing tension between officials and teams
The controversy comes at a time when LaLiga has launched an anti-referee harassment campaign. However, the officials’ approach to match management, characterized by prolonged reviews of already clear situations, appears to be counterproductive to improving the game’s quality and maintaining its natural flow.
VAR screen showing the handball incident. Credit: ‘Movistar+’
As the season progresses, the spotlight on officiating decisions continues to intensify, raising questions about the balance between thorough review processes and maintaining the game’s natural rhythm.
