Real Madrid left the match against Mallorca with a bitter taste that went beyond the result. The refereeing controversy was once again on the table and, this time, even the opponent acknowledged that the referee's decision clearly harmed the white team.
The episode occurred with the disallowed goal by Arda Güler, a play that could have changed the course of the match. The goal was invalidated due to an alleged handball in the previous action, but the subsequent review left many doubts. What's surprising is that Mallorca itself admitted that the action didn't justify the referee's decision.
An unprecedented acknowledgment
It's not common in Spanish soccer for an opponent to publicly acknowledge a refereeing error that benefits it. In this case, Sergi Darder, a Mallorca footballer, didn't hesitate to admit after the match that Güler's action shouldn't have been disallowed.
His words were clear: The young Turk's goal was legal. This statement dismantles any debate and confirms what many had already seen live. Real Madrid was seriously harmed by the refereeing team in a decisive action.
The goal that could have changed everything
Arda Güler is experiencing a dream start to the season, and his goal against Mallorca should have been a new display of his enormous talent. However, the referee's intervention erased it from the scoreboard and caused enormous outrage on the Madrid bench.
The goal could have radically changed the match. Real Madrid needed that offensive boost and the young Turk had found the formula with a precise shot. The disallowance left the team's effort unrewarded and kept Mallorca in the match.
Real Madrid, a repeated victim
The outrage in the Madrid environment isn't new. Real Madrid has long felt like a victim of controversial refereeing decisions, and this latest play has only fueled the debate. Mallorca's acknowledgment is irrefutable proof that the Madrid complaint is well-founded.
The fact that the opponent admits the referees made a mistake calls the referee's performance into question. For Madrid fans, it's not just an isolated error, but an accumulation of decisions that end up influencing the results.
An unsustainable situation
Real Madrid demands equal treatment and insists that refereeing errors must stop conditioning its matches. The fact that an opposing footballer openly acknowledges that Güler's goal was legal gives an idea of the level of refereeing in Spain.
The controversy will remain present in the coming days, but what is clear is that Real Madrid was the big loser in the clash against Mallorca. This time, not even the opponent could hide it.