FC Barcelona visited Ciutat de Valencia in the second matchday of LaLiga EA Sports. The match against Levante UD produced more than one controversial headline, and not because of Barça's play. Refereeing decisions drew all the attention.
In the 45+5 minute, José Luis Morales fired a powerful shot toward Joan García's goal. The ball ended up hitting Alejandro Balde's left arm. Referee Alejandro Hernández Hernández awarded a penalty, even though the Barça player's arm was close to his body.
For many, including Antonio Mateu Lahoz's opinion, this decision was a clear mistake. Balde's action wasn't intentional and, therefore, shouldn't have been penalized.
Mateu Lahoz has no doubts
The former referee and current Cadena Cope analyst was blunt. On Tiempo de Juego, he explained that Balde's arm "couldn't be closer." He also emphasized that the action shouldn't have been considered a penalty.
Mateu Lahoz also pointed out the influence of VAR on the decision. Alejandro Hernández received communication from the booth, but his review on the monitor didn't change his judgment. The result: penalty taken by Levante and a 2-0 score at halftime.
Barça doesn't give up
Despite the scare and the perceived injustice, the Barça squad replied in the second half. With intensity and discipline, it managed to turn the score around and took the victory 3-2. With these three points, Barça kept its place at the top of LaLiga, reaching six points in two matchdays.
However, the controversy remains unsolved. Many fans and experts insist that the refereeing criteria weren't consistent and that VAR didn't fulfill its function properly.
A precedent that weighs
The controversy also brings back memories of the last LaLiga clásico of 2024/25. In that match, Alejandro Hernández Hernández was the main referee and there was another controversial play involving Aurélien Tchouameni. After a shot from Ferran Torres, the ball touched the Madrid player's hand; this time, the referee didn't penalize the action as a penalty.
Mateu Lahoz recalls this precedent to point out the inconsistency: "If at that moment he decided it wasn't a penalty, it's impossible for him to call handball in this play," he stated. The difference in criteria raises doubts about the referee's impartiality and fuels the perception that certain teams receive different treatment.