LaLiga, as the only top five league in Europe not to use goal-line technology, has recently come under intense scrutiny and criticism following controversial incidents in key matches. Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, has called on the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to consider replaying the El Clasico encounter with Real Madrid after VAR disallowed Lamine Yamal’s goal, which has been dubbed a ‘phantom’ goal. This decision has sparked a heated debate in the football community, as it directly impacts the outcome of such crucial matches.
Laporta’s statement on Monday opened: “As president of FC Barcelona, I would like to put across my dissatisfaction the day after the improper use of a tool such as VAR in one of the most important matches in the global schedule is marking our calendar.
“As you well know, I have never been a great defender of VAR because I believe that, as it is applied, it takes away football’s spontaneity. But what I am in favour of is that, now that we have it, we always use to avoid errors that can lead to unfair decisions.”
Laporta continued: “In this appearance I am making, I am not only bringing together the unhappiness of Barca fans with the management of VAR yesterday [Sunday], but also, I am highlighting the fact that even though it is a tool that has been used for a while, it continues to create confusions with contradictory criteria according to matches and teams.
“Barcelona would also like to highlight the power of our competition and that we are successful and followed by millions of fans around the world, but we cannot be exempt from criticism when the use of VAR undermines our product.
Laporta’s lengthy statement added: “We understand the difficulty faced by officials, but it is for that reason that such tools exist (like VAR) which should help the competition be fairer and not the other way around. 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 Committee 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 measure to reverse the situation, without discounting, obviously, any necessary legal action.
“If it is confirmed that it was a legal goal, we will move ahead and we do not discount requesting that the game be replayed, just as has happened in another game in Europe due to a VAR error. Finally, I would like to underline that despite our focus on this incident, we also disagree with various others that occurred during the game, and that could have been reviewed using VAR.”
In response, head coach Xavi Hernandez criticized the officiating in LaLiga, emphasizing the impact of VAR and the absence of goal-line technology. This issue has raised significant concerns about the fairness and accuracy of match outcomes, especially in high-stakes encounters like El Clasico. Laporta’s dissatisfaction with the use of VAR in such a pivotal match reflects the broader conversations about the role of technology in football and its influence on the spontaneity of the game.
Xavi told reporters, when asked about the controversial events at the Santiago Bernabeu: “We can’t control them. These are refereeing actions. I think the team is doing very well, we competed very well, we were better than Real on their own pitch and I think we deserved the three points in every way.
“My feeling today is one of maximum injustice. Goes without saying, everyone saw it,” he added. “My feeling is that today’s match was not fair.”
The controversy surrounding the disallowed goal and the subsequent impact on the match’s outcome has reignited the debate about the implementation of goal-line technology in LaLiga. This call for technological advancements aligns with similar systems utilized in other top European leagues, highlighting a potential need for LaLiga to reconsider its stance on this matter.
Furthermore, the reference to a Belgian Pro League match between Anderlecht and Genk being replayed due to a VAR error serves as a critical precedent for addressing contentious refereeing decisions. Laporta’s hope for a similar outcome in the case of the El Clasico encounter underscores the significance of fair play and accurate officiating in ensuring the integrity of football competitions.
The ongoing debates and controversies surrounding VAR, goal-line technology, and refereeing decisions underscore the evolving landscape of football and the intersection of technology with the traditional elements of the game. As football continues to adapt to new challenges and advancements, the role of technology in enhancing fair play and minimizing errors remains a pivotal topic for stakeholders and fans alike.
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