In the last match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid, the game was not only notable for Vinicius Jr’s celebration after the first goal but also for the heated controversy surrounding the second penalty awarded to Real Madrid.

This decision led directly to Kylian Mbappes goal and became an important point of discussion.

The incident occurred with less than 20 minutes left of regular time. Vinicius had entered the penalty area and tried to return a pass. His effort was blocked by the Real Sociedad defence, and at first glance nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

But the match referee, Martinez Munuera, was soon alerted by the officials in the VAR room. When reviewing the video footage, it was clear that something crucial had been overlooked on the pitch.

What caught the officials’ attention was a late challenge by Aramburu on Vinicius. Although the Brazilian had already released the ball, the defender stamped on his foot, leading to the decision to award a penalty to Real Madrid.

This moment of hesitation and subsequent scrutiny turned what seemed like an inconsequential play into a game-changing decision. Mbappe converted the penalty, putting Real Madrid ahead and intensifying the controversy surrounding the match.

Toni Freixa reacts

The decision to impose the sentence was met with significant backlash, particularly from those with connections to Barcelona.

One of the most vocal critics was Toni Freixa, a former director in Barcelona. Taking to social media platform X, Freixa expressed her frustration at how VAR was used in this situation. He strongly criticized the decision, saying:

“What rascals they are. They have turned VAR into a tool to distort competition.” His comments reflect the wider sentiment among many who believe that the use of VAR in such cases may unfairly favor certain teams.

In this particular case, the timing of the penalty award and its potential impact on the outcome of the match only added fuel to the fire.

For Real Madrid, it was a decisive moment that helped secure victory, but for others, particularly those associated with Barcelona, ​​it was another example of VAR being used in a way that feels unfair.