Huge Mess with VAR: The Audio of the Penalty on Mbappé Is Very Controversial

Despite Real Madrid's defeat, the controversy of the match between the white team and Valencia remains one of the main topics of discussion these days. One of the most highlighted events of that clash at Santiago Bernabéu is the penalty committed by César Tárrega on Kylian Mbappé. The white '9' fell inside the area and Cuadra Fernández had no doubt in pointing to the penalty spot for that body contact between both footballers.

Despite the referee's clear determination, VAR came into action to review the play... following the regulations set by RFEF and CTA in the implementation of video refereeing in our country. Far from confirming Cuadra Fernández's verdict, the person in charge of VAR requested the presence of the Balearic committee referee to review his decision.

Figueroa Vázquez called Cuadra Fernández to the monitor with words that have gone viral and draw attention. "I recommend you come to see the play so that it won't be a penalty," the VAR referee pointed out to his colleague, the on-field referee of the Real Madrid-Valencia match. Cuadra Fernández went to the screen to see different angles of the action between Kylian Mbappé and César Tárrega.

Following that play through different angles, Cuadra Fernández ignored Figueroa Vázquez's suggestion: "There is the touch that unbalances Kylian in the ball dispute". According to the on-field referee, the action is constitutive of a penalty given a clear touch by César Tárrega on Kylian Mbappé in Valencia's area.

No Change in His Decision

"That player's touch is what knocks him down, there is a ball dispute because it's in the middle between the two players, I maintain the decision, I go with a penalty", Cuadra Fernández concludes. The result of that action is widely known: the Balearic committee referee ratified his decision to award a penalty to Real Madrid.

While it was a great opportunity to take the lead, Vinícius Jr. ended that excellent chance with a highly criticized shot that only deepens the constant criticism received by the verdeamarelo striker since the 2025 soccer year began. His performance in the second half of the current season, except for some matches, surprises negatively even the white fans, who left a boo for the forward during his substitution.

Figueroa Vázquez called Cuadra Fernández with the intention of having him reconsider his decision upon reviewing the images. This suggestion from VAR, however, was not presented as an option for consideration by the on-field referee... who ended up confirming his initial verdict after watching the action involving Kylian Mbappé and César Tárrega repeated.

The VAR review of that decisive play in the match, however, had no desired effect for all Madridists given Vinícius Jr.'s miss. Meanwhile, it reopens the debate about the first penalty taker at Real Madrid, a discussion that seemed closed quite some time ago.