Barcelona once again gain from dubious decisions proving Real Madrid are right to be furious with CTA | OneFootball

Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano, but the real talking point of the match came in the 37th minute when referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer awarded a penalty to Hansi Flick’s side.

Lamine Yamal went down inside the area, and to the surprise of many, the referee immediately pointed to the spot.

The decision has since caused uproar across Spanish football because the incident was far from clear and, under normal circumstances, would not have been deemed a penalty.

Questionable decision

What made matters worse was the fact that the VAR system at the Vallecas Stadium was not operational at the time.

VAR was down for the first 40 minutes of the match, meaning the referee could not communicate with the VAR room until after the penalty had already been given.

This episode is another example of the inconsistencies that continue to surround Spanish refereeing.

Real Madrid are not happy with the refereeing decisions. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Once again, Barcelona were on the right side of a major decision, and the lack of VAR intervention raises even more doubts about the fairness of officiating in La Liga.

Growing frustration with refereeing

For Real Madrid, this match serves as yet another warning sign about the challenges they will face in the fight for the 2025-26 La Liga title.

Incidents like the one at Vallecas reinforce their belief that refereeing in Spain has not improved, despite promises of reform.

As reported recently, Madrid have little confidence in the new leadership of the CTA (Technical Committee of Referees).

The club feels that the structural problems remain the same and that no significant changes have been made, no matter how much the system is dressed up differently.

From Real Madrid’s perspective, the penalty given to Barcelona at Vallecas – without the possibility of VAR review – is a clear reflection of the bias and inefficiency that continue to plague Spanish football.

Until La Liga ensures greater transparency and reliability in refereeing, doubts will continue to overshadow matches, and Real Madrid’s scepticism will only grow stronger.