The grand reopening of the Spotify Camp Nou was overshadowed by a VAR intervention that led to the red card of Athletic Club midfielder Oihan Sancet during FC Barcelona’s 4-0 victory on Saturday.
Audio released from the VAR, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, details the exact exchange that overturned the initial decision.
The incident occurred in the 51st minute following a harsh challenge by Sancet on Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez, with the host side leading 3-0. On-field referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez initially issued only a yellow card.
The VAR room, led by official Daniel Trujillo Suarez, immediately instructed the referee to review the play at the touchline monitor.
What happened during the VAR incident
Trujillo Suarez told the on-field official, “Jose Maria, I recommend an on-field review so you can assess a potential case of serious foul play. Let me know when you’re at the monitor.”
As the decision was being reviewed, Sancet was heard protesting his innocence to the match officials.
The midfielder complained: “Don’t mess with me, it’s just a normal kick.”
However, once Sanchez Martinez reached the monitor, the severity of the challenge, where Sancet made no attempt to play the ball, became clear. The referee requested several replays to confirm the contact.
“Alright, I’m looking at the point of contact. Good, now I want to see it from a wider angle and at full speed,” the referee requested.
After viewing the replay at normal pace, Sanchez Martinez confirmed his final decision, relaying it back to the VAR room: “At full speed, that’s the key. Normal pace, like that. Perfect – I’m going to upgrade it to a red card and rescind the yellow.”
The referee then called the player over to finalise the dismissal.
“Oihan, come with me, come with me,” Sanchez Martinez said before showing the straight red card.
The expulsion will result in a one-match suspension for the Athletic midfielder. The final match report recorded the specific reason for the dismissal: “For kicking an opponent with excessive force while the ball was in play but with no possibility of playing it.”