The VAR audio behind Vinicius’ disallowed goal against Athletic Club | OneFootball

Real Madrid narrowly edged past Athletic Club 1-0 in a tense La Liga clash, thanks to Federico Valverde’s dramatic 93rd-minute winner.

However, the match was not without controversy, as Vinicius Jr. had a goal ruled out in the 80th minute following a VAR review that left fans and pundits questioning the decision.

Initially, Vinicius looked to have broken the deadlock with a clinical finish, but celebrations were cut short as the referee was called to the monitor by the VAR team.

The issue? Possible offside interference by Endrick, who was judged to have impeded Athletic defender Aitor Paredes.

VAR audio comes to light

The conversation between the match officials, later revealed by Spanish media, sheds light on how the decision unfolded. The VAR official can be heard telling pitch referee Martínez Munuera:

“Juan, I need to call you to come and assess Endrick’s interference on Aitor Paredes, okay? Then we send the recreation of the position in case you signal offside.”

Martínez Munuera responded: “Okay, I’m going to see it.” At the monitor, he requested different angles to assess the interference: “I want to see one that’s offside… and now I want the high behind.”

However, technical limitations seemed to hinder the decision-making process. The requested angle, dubbed “the high behind,” wasn’t focused properly. The VAR assistant tried to compensate by offering a zoomed-out view:

“We can put the sky cam on for you.” After viewing the footage, the referee ultimately concluded:

“Okay, it’s very close… There is interference, I’m going with offside.”

That decision meant Vinicius’ goal was chalked off, much to the frustration of the Real Madrid bench and supporters.

Social media erupted with debate, with many questioning whether Endrick’s position truly affected the play or Paredes’ ability to defend the shot.

Despite the drama, Real Madrid remained composed and found the breakthrough in stoppage time, with Valverde slotting home the winner and ensuring Los Blancos walked away with all three points.