A soccer referee on the field raising his hand with an inserted image of a play between two players.
Sánchez Martínez made a curious decision in Athletic Club-Real Madrid | Camara Real Madrid Confidencial
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Penalty on Rodrygo and the VAR Audio Raises Blisters over Sánchez Martínez

The analysis of the possible penalty on Madrid's '11' hasn't left anyone indifferent

by

Enrique Sanz

Real Madrid's defeat at San Mamés has sparked all kinds of analysis and opinions on the matter. The club's irregular competitive form is once again taking its toll on its sporting aspirations for this season, although there's also controversy .

Rodrygo Goes was one of the protagonists of the match due to a possible penalty that Sánchez Martínez, the on-field referee, didn't call as such. The person in charge of the VAR, Figueroa Vázquez, reviewed the play and issued a warning: "José María, I recommend that you come and see a potential penalty. He never touches the ball."

Soccer players compete for the ball in a match, one in a white uniform and one in a red and white uniform, while other players watch in the background.
The possible penalty on Rodrygo Goes was not called | Real Madrid Confidencial

It was then that the on-field referee came over to look at the entire sequence and, after a few moments of deliberation with the VAR room, everything was settled. Even though Gorosabel never touched the ball and it clearly hit Rodrygo Goes, Sánchez Martínez made a decision: "I'm not going to signal anything."

Sánchez Martínez's decision greatly irritated all the Real Madrid players, who knew that the infringement could have been called as a penalty. "I'm going to restart with a goal kick or offside. It was offside, right, Jorge?" the referee asked his colleague at the VAR.

Different Appreciations

Receiving confirmation of this infringement by Real Madrid , Sánchez Martínez decides to annul the goal scored by Kylian Mbappé ... confirming at the same time that there was no penalty on Rodrygo Goes despite the images he saw on the monitor. While it is true that this event doesn't justify the defeat , it leaves room for much speculation .

Real Madrid haven't offered any reply to what happened at San Mamés. Only Real Madrid TV , with its videos on the referees in La Liga, has given an answer to the questions raised about the refereeing system since the outbreak of the 'Negreira case' .

Real Madrid soccer players on the field during a match, one of them interacting with the referee.
Sánchez Martínez explains his decision to Kylian Mbappé and Rodrygo Goes | Real Madrid Confidencial

This possible penalty not called on Rodrygo Goes is one more play for a controversy that hasn't ended with the  implementation and use of VAR . The tool installed several seasons ago is also in FIFA's sights , where they are working to complement it with other video refereeing aids .

Whatever the case, Real Madrid are already working on turning around the poor result they had in Bilbao . It is imperative to correct their competitive course as soon as possible because their options in the League and Champions League are at stake this December.

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