Barcelona president demands Clasico replay over controversial ‘Ghost Goal’ decision

Barcelona president demands Clasico replay over controversial ‘Ghost Goal’ decision

Barcelona president Joan Laporta announced on Monday that the club will push for a replay of the Clasico match against Real Madrid if they can prove that officials erred by not allowing Lamine Yamal’s disputed “ghost goal.”

In Sunday’s match at the Santiago Bernabeu, Barcelona suffered a 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid amidst a flurry of contentious incidents, leaving their rivals with an 11-point lead in La Liga.

The focal point of debate was a first-half flick by 16-year-old winger Yamal from a corner, which appeared to cross the line before being pushed away by Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

Due to the absence of goal-line technology in Spain, VAR was used to review the incident. However, officials could not definitively determine if the ball had crossed the line, resulting in play continuing with the score tied at 1-1.

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Laporta emphasized that Barcelona will request all footage and audio recordings related to the incident from the Spanish football federation and the refereeing committee. If evidence suggests an error in judgment, Laporta stated that the club would pursue all necessary measures to rectify the situation, including potential legal action.

Furthermore, Laporta cited a previous instance in European football where a match between Anderlecht and Genk was set for replay due to a VAR error, indicating a precedent for such decisions.

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez echoed Laporta’s sentiments, labeling the absence of goal-line technology in Spanish football as a “disgrace.”

Laporta also criticized the inconsistent use of VAR, noting discrepancies in its application based on the teams involved. Barcelona had two penalty appeals dismissed during the Clasico, adding to the controversy surrounding the match.

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