Sunday's big football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla CF was overshadowed by the refereeing decisions

VAR in the spotlight at the end of La Liga: are criteria not clear-cut or is there a black hand?

photo_camera Real Madrid Sevilla

Three rounds remain to find out who will win La Liga: Atlético de Madrid, Real Madrid or FC Barcelona. Sevilla are out of the running.

Atlético and Barça played out a goalless draw on Saturday. Simeone's side deserved more, but Ter Stegen's saves and Atlético's lack of accuracy left the score at 0-0.

On Sunday, Real Madrid and Sevilla drew 2-2. Both teams needed a victory, and the match had all the ingredients to draw the attention of the fans.

It was a game with pace, with both teams going forward, no speculation, high pressing, chances on goal and controversial plays.

Real Madrid Sevilla VAR

However, everybody is talking about Martínez Munuera and González González. Who are they? Well, they are the referees in charge of dispensing justice. One on the pitch and the other on the famous VAR.

This system supported by technology has arrived in football to impart justice and help referees, but in Spain it is becoming more and more controversial every day. Why is that? Well, it depends on who you talk to and how the match is going and they will tell you if it is being beneficial or not.

On Sunday, both coaches were asked the same question: "Do you know and are you clear about the criteria for handball in the penalty area? Both coaches answered, "No". Every week the VAR applies different criteria for similar plays. What one week is analysed by the VAR and the attention of the on-field referee is called for a penalty, the following week it is no longer the case. The issue of hands is not at all clear. Voluntariness is no longer in question, as no player wants to commit a penalty. The natural way of jumping is one way for some and another way for others. Occupying space with the arms has a lot to do with whether or not a penalty is called. Regarding rebounds, it depends. The rule says that if it comes from a rebound it is not a handball. 

Real Madrid Sevilla VAR

But Militao is hit on the shoulder and then on the hand. But the arm takes up space, and how do you jump without using your arms? There may be an intention to take up space. But if his back is turned, how can there be intention?

What about Felipe's handball in the derby? What about Ramos' uncalled handball against Eibar? And countless others that seem identical to us but are refereed in a different way?

The fact is that there are no such problems in Europe, at least not in the Champions League. In Spain neither players, coaches nor presidents know how the rules work because when they think they have understood them, the following week they are whistled for the opposite. (The fans the same). There are doubts about the images that are provided for the VAR, there are doubts about the fact that plays are overlooked and then other television channels take them out. There are doubts about the Professional Football League, the calendar and the match schedules. There are doubts about the refereeing profession. Their appointments. Of their promotions and relegations.

Real Madrid Sevilla VAR

It seems that this year mistakes have been more detrimental to Real Madrid, is that right? And the "Superliga" goes against the Federation, against La Liga, against UEFA. After all, with so much progress, we still have the same problems as forty years ago. There is a lot of refereeing controversy. Maybe they are still the same, with technology, but the same.

Will the Professional Football League be professional, the same as the referees and the Federation's leaders? Would the Super League solve this and put an end some people' s monopoly?

Real Madrid Sevilla VAR

For a day when we see a good football show, we don't talk about Bono and his saves, about Benzema and how he makes his team play, about Sevilla's high pressing that stifles Madrid, about Jesús Navas' runs up the flank, about Fernando's dull but necessary work or about the good game of a young Madrid player like Miguel Gutiérrez. We talk about hands and more hands in different games and in different ways.

Could it be that some people are looking for the limelight? Maybe there is a black hand. The fact is that they are ruining football. Sunday's great football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla CF was overshadowed by the refereeing decisions.

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