De Burgos Bengoetxea Exposed: This Is How He Manipulated Soto Grado from the VAR to Make Him Whistle

The Draw in the Madrid classic Has Left Many Consequences. Besides the tactical aspects of both teams, many have focused the debate on the penalty that Soto Grado, after a review of the play in the VAR, decided to call. That action against Real Madrid, a supposed stomp by Tchouaméni on Samu Lino, has sparked all kinds of debates.

Especially when refereeing experts from various media outlets can't agree on the resolution of that play. The sequence of what happened on the field of Santiago Bernabéu stadium is revealed following the publication of the VAR audios. "César, I recommend an OFR to evaluate a possible penalty", warned Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea to his colleague at the merengue stadium.

That call to make an on-fieldreview of the play between Tchouaméni and Samu Lino was accepted by Soto Grado:  "I'm going to evaluate it". De Burgos Bengoetxea showed some images of the action,  "I have it swept, it's not very clear, but then I'm going to show you one with more quality". Besides offering those words, de Burgos Bengoetxea indicated that "now I'm going to show you another one with more quality so you can see the stomp".

Such appreciation from the referee in charge of the VAR came without Soto Grado having determined that Tchouaméni had stepped on Lino inside Real Madrid's area. "Stop it at the point of contact so he can see it, please", Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea asks one of the technicians joining him in the VOR room. Those images didn't seem to convince Soto Grado, who asked  "let's see if you have one where he hits him from behind", seeking to have a clearer angle of the play.

Striking Exchange

The field referee, in that review, seemed to appreciate that Tchouaméni "steps on him with studs" to the Atlético de Madrid player, requesting more shots and angles of the same play. But de Burgos Bengoetxea excused himself by making it clear that "these are the best quality ones, César. These are the best quality ones, the others are very swept".

In the face of that absence of new angles to evaluate such an important play for the pace of the match, Soto Grado announced that  "I'm going to call a penalty, but for me... I'm not going to issue a warning. Penalty in favor of Atlético de Madrid", concludes the field referee of the Madrid classic.

This revealing conversation between César Soto Grado and Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea in the review makes Madridism not hesitate to point again at the Spanish referees. Especially because of the bad memories that both referees bring in previous seasons, especially two duels at Mestalla in which Vinícius ended up expelled.

The controversy hasn't diminished after the publication of the audio of the conversation between the field referee and the VAR referee of the Madrid classic, a high-tension match. The possibility of maintaining or taking the lead in LaLiga will be set aside until the next matchday... with the white club still in first position.