The match between FC Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano produced more headlines than expected. Beyond the sporting aspect, what happened in the tunnel once again puts referees at the center of controversy.
This time, the main character wasn't a culé or a Madridist, but Isi Palazón, captain and recognized voice in the franjirrojo locker room.
The forward didn't hesitate to publicly share what he heard from the referee at the end of the match. His words spread like wildfire and ignited controversy.
"Yes, he made a mistake. I asked him and he knew it was a somewhat controversial decision. It honors him as a referee and as a person.
The problem is that they always lean the same way. I took it well."
"Guys, the referee just admitted his mistake." These are also Isi's words to his teammates shortly before stepping onto the field in the second half.
According to Isi Palazón after the match, the referee admitted to making a mistake in a key play that favored Barcelona. "In the tunnel he told us he had made a mistake," said the Rayo player with a tone of disbelief.
The testimony quickly multiplied on social media, where fans of different teams pointed out that an admission of that magnitude puts the competition in a bad light. It's not common for a referee to admit a mistake in that way, much less for a footballer to make it public.
A little later, the referee himself would deny Isi Palazón's words, denying having said them.
Barça, in the eye of the storm
What has caused the most stir isn't so much the mistake itself, but the fact that it benefited the blaugrana side. In a context where the Catalan club is still shadowed by the Negreira Case, every refereeing error in its favor is scrutinized.
For culé supporters, the incident is just a simple anecdote. However, among the rest of the fans, Isi's account has been enough to fuel suspicion. The controversy extends beyond what happened on the field and threatens to drag on for days.
Isi Palazón, the voice of an outraged locker room
The Rayo player didn't want to overlook what happened and shared it at the microphones naturally. His courage has been applauded by part of the fans, who understand that not all footballers would dare to step forward in that way.
For Isi, this isn't an attack on Barça, but a denunciation of something that should concern everyone: refereeing transparency. "If the referee admits he made a mistake, what else can we do?" he said with resignation.
An ongoing debate that doesn't stop
The referee's confession in the tunnel has ignited a fire that won't be easy to put out. In a championship that's increasingly questioned, gestures like the one described by Isi Palazón contribute to increasing the sense of mistrust.
The controversy is on, and although it won't change the result, it has once again put referees and Barcelona in the spotlight.