Real Madrid squandered yet another opportunity to close the gap on Barcelona, settling for a dramatic 3-3 draw against Rayo Vallecano in Vallecas this past Saturday. Carlo Ancelotti’s men have failed to fully capitalize on Barcelona poor run of form, with Saturday’s match marked by controversy over a decisive non-call in the 75th minute.
The pivotal moment came when Vinicius Jr. appeared to be fouled inside the box by Rayo’s Abdul Mumin. However, referee Martínez Munuera did not award a penalty, and VAR opted not to intervene. The decision sparked outrage within the Real Madrid camp. Journalist Javier Herráez revealed the club’s discontent on _Carrusel Deportivo_, stating, _“They are angry about the penalty not called on Vini.”_
In a post-match interaction captured by DAZN, Martínez Munuera acknowledged the potential error: _“Listen to me... it could be that I was wrong, and okay, if I’m wrong... don’t approach like that, don’t come like that.”_ the referee told Vinicius - reproaching the Brazilian. Vinicius, already booked for dissent earlier in the match, will miss the upcoming Sevilla clash through suspension.
The controversial officiating reignites discussions over consistency and fairness in La Liga’s refereeing. The fact that VAR did not review the play has infuriated those within the club. The legacy of the Negreira case and the total distrust of referees continues to haunt Spanish football.