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April 23, 2024
Sunday’s El Clasico at the Bernabeu was filled with drama as officials ruled that Lamine Yamal’s shot did not cross the line, a decision that infuriated Barcelona president Joan Laporta, goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and head coach Xavi. Laporta has indicated that the club may consider legal action or even seek a replay of the match if it’s determined that Yamal’s effort indeed crossed the line in their 3-2 loss to Real Madrid.
Without goal-line technology in La Liga, the VAR ruling concluded that Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin, successfully kept the ball out at a crucial moment. This contentious decision has reignited discussions about the need for better technology in football to prevent such controversies in the future.
The visitors maintained that the ball had crossed the line. Still, the goal was ultimately disallowed, allowing Real Madrid to secure the victory. This result significantly dented Barcelona’s title aspirations, leaving Carlo Ancelotti’s team 11 points ahead of their fierce Catalan rivals with only six matches remaining. In an official statement.
Laporta announced that Barcelona would request the audio and video footage from the Spanish FA’s technical refereeing committee to determine if Yamal’s strike should have counted. He described the incident as a critical moment in the “phantom goal” match.
He said: “Yesterday, there were several debatable incidents, but amongst all of them, there is one that is crucial and can change the result of the game.
“I am referring to the ‘phantom goal’ by Lamine. As a club we want to be sure about what happened, and it is for that reason that from FCB we will make an immediate request to the Technical Refereeing Commitee at the Spanish Football Federation for a comprehensive collection of footage and audio from the incident.”
“If, once this documentation has been analysed, the club understands that an error was made in the revision of the incident, we will take all available measures to reverse the situation, without discounting, obviously, any necessary legal action.”
Laporta added that Barcelona could ask for the game to be replayed if the ball was found to have crossed the line.
He said the club “do not discount requesting that the game to be replayed, just as has happened in another game in Europe due to a VAR error”.
Laporta is referring to a Belgian Pro League match between Anderlecht and Genk on December 22, which was replayed in full due to a VAR error.
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and head coach Xavi slammed La Liga’s decision not to implement goal-line technology.
“I can’t find the words to explain what happened on the goal line,” Ter Stegen told the media after the match. “It’s embarrassing for football. There is a lot of money in this industry, but not for what is important.
“I don’t understand how there cannot be money to implement the technology that other leagues have.”
Barca head coach Xavi also reflected on the incident in his post-match press conference and concurred with is goalkeeper’s opinion.
“I completely agree [with Ter Stegen],” Xavi added.
“It’s embarrassing that there is not goal-line technology. If we want to say this is the best league in the world, we need it.’’
“Everyone has seen it. What can I say? [The league] can sanction me. The images are there. The feeling today is of complete injustice.”
“I said before the match that I hoped the referee would go unnoticed and get the decisions right,” he continued. “In the end, neither of the two have happened.”
Andreas Christensen and Fermin Lopez scored two goals and gave Barcelona the lead twice. Still, Carlo Ancelotti’s team pulled three vital points thanks to goals from Lucas Vazquez and Jude Bellingham in stoppage time following Vinicius Junior’s penalty kick in the eighteenth minute.
Xavi was pleased with his side’s performance on the night but admits that the title race “is practically done.”
“I am proud of the team, especially in the second half,” Xavi explained.
“We tried. We were good, but mistakes have cost us the defeat.”
“Normally, based on how the game went, we win. We deserved the victory. We created more and defended well. We controlled the game.”
“La Liga is 38 games long, and you have to congratulate [Madrid]. They have had just one defeat all season, and the title is practically done now.”
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Latest Football News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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