Barça achieved a narrow victory against Rayo Vallecano in a match full of controversy. Several refereeing decisions marked the development of the match. The visitors strongly protested some key plays.
One of the most discussed moments was the penalty awarded to Barça. A grab inside the area was enough for Melero López to point to the spot. However, minutes later, a similar action in the blaugrana area went unpunished.
A Disallowed Goal That Sparked Controversy
The hottest moment of the match came with the disallowed goal for Rayo. The play, quickly reviewed, left many doubts. Melero López's decision caused anger on the visiting bench.
Nteka was offside at the moment of the shot. By moving, he blocked Íñigo Martínez's run, which led to the goal being disallowed. The surprise came when the referee made the decision without consulting VAR.
VAR Didn't Even Review the Action
Normally, in plays of this type, VAR reviews the action to confirm if there is interference in the play. On this occasion, it didn't happen. The referee was decisive in his decision from the first moment.
Rayo players protested vigorously, convinced that the goal was legal. However, neither Melero López nor the assistant deemed a deeper check necessary. The replay images didn't completely clear the doubts.
The CTA's Reaction After the Controversy
After the match, the debate over the refereeing decision moved to the media. Many expected the Technical Committee of Referees to comment on the play. The response came through a leak.
The program El Partidazo de COPE revealed the CTA's stance on the action. The information, provided by journalist Isaac Fouto, surprised many. The committee confirmed that the play wasn't even reviewed by VAR.
Isaac Fouto Reveals the Refereeing Committee's Stance
According to Fouto, "VAR didn't intervene in the play, as it was disallowed at the moment of the action by the referee and the assistant". The decision was made on the field without technological assistance.
The fact that VAR didn't review the action has caused even more debate. The lack of a detailed review has been seen as a serious error by some analysts.
The Controversy Remains Open After the Match
Rayo Vallecano didn't hide their discontent with what happened. From the locker room, several protagonists made it clear that they didn't understand the refereeing decision. On social media, the fans also expressed their dissatisfaction.
Melero López's refereeing has been one of the most talked-about topics after the matchday. The CTA's reaction has only fueled the controversy even more.