La Liga has already started and Barça has two important victories. The first was clear against Mallorca, where it hardly suffered. The second, last night against Levante, was more difficult and left a lingering debate that still continues.
Levante, newly promoted and full of excitement, faced Barça with a brave and organized plan. It surprised everyone by going into halftime with a two-goal lead. Barça replied after the break, but the comeback wasn't the only topic discussed.
Balde and the controversial handball against Levante
In recent seasons, refereeing in Spain has been a constant topic of conversation. VAR, far from resolving doubts, has multiplied them every matchday. The technological tool seems useful, but its application creates too much uncertainty.
In this match, all the controversy revolved around a very specific play. Aleandro Balde intercepted the ball with his hand inside the box. The action was reviewed by the referee on the monitor, raising tension both in the stands and on social media.
The precedent that casts doubt on everything
Many fans immediately recalled a very recent and symbolic episode. The last almost identical precedent happened in a Clásico, with Mateu Lahoz as the main referee. Back then, the protagonist was Aurélien Tchouaméni in a very similar play.
Lahoz went to watch the replay on the monitor, just like in this case. However, he decided there was no penalty and let the match continue. Now, with Balde, the interpretation was the opposite, generating outrage and fueling the sense of inconsistency.
A standard that fails to convince
The disparity in decisions confuses all followers of Spanish soccer. People don't understand why two almost identical actions receive such different rulings. The general perception is that there isn't a clear line in refereeing standards.
VAR was created to bring justice, uniformity, and peace of mind. However, its application in Spain remains irregular and highly questioned. Examples like the one with Balde against Levante reinforce that growing distrust among fans.
Barça and the challenge of La Liga
Beyond the refereeing controversy, Barça is aware that every match this season will be demanding. The pressure is at its highest from the very first matchday. Rivals like Levante, newly arrived in the elite, find extra motivation to rise to the occasion in these scenarios.
The handball controversy has been the main topic in the conversation after the match. Barça managed to secure all three points, but the debate remains focused on refereeing decisions. Aleandro Balde, unintentionally, became the center of a media storm.