The referees Alejandro Muniz Ruizon the ground, and Valentin Pizarro Gomezinside VARThey played in a very controversial play by Girona-Barcelona of the fifth day of the League. The two referees They took a penalty in Girona when the match was 0-2, just before halftime. Although Muñiz Ruiz, referee of Montilivi, whistled the maximum penalty on the field, Pizarro Gómez of the VAR called him to correct his decision and not blow the penalty in favor of Girona, as ended up happening. The punishment, that is, the penalty, was very clear because hand of Iñigo Martinezbut the intervention of the VAR ended up surprisingly changing this initial decision.
After a resounding handball by Iñigo Martínez, referee Muñiz Ruiz immediately awarded a penalty. The referee on the pitch saw it well and signaled the maximum penalty in the 44th minute, when the match was 0-2 after a Lamine Yamal’s double.
The penalty came after a cross into the area in which Bryan Ruiza Girona player, tried to finish the ball that hit Alejandro Balde. The ball, after touching the Barcelona side, hit the hand of Iñigo Martínez, completely detached from the bodyThe penalty was clear, as it was awarded by the referee who was one metre away from the game, but two minutes later, Pizarro Gómez of the VAR informed the main referee to go and review the game.
The curious thing about what happened in Montilivi is that The penalty in favor of Girona would have been taken before the VAR had time to warn If Ter Stegen did not start wasting timedrink water and delay the penalty shot. Abel Ruiz was already with the ball placed at the penalty spotThe referee was ready to blow the whistle, but as the Barcelona goalkeeper began to drink water and waste time, the penalty could not be taken.
That’s when Pizarro Gómez warned Muñiz Ruiz in an incomprehensible way to go and watch the penalty again on television and, after seeing the play on the screen, he cancelled the penalty. Both referees interpreted that the handball was involuntary and that the ball had hit Iñigo Martínez’s hand after hitting Iñigo Martínez’s chest. Bucket and, therefore, the ball came from one of his teammates.
However, that is no reason why it should not be a penalty and no matter how much the ball hit Iñigo Martínez’s hand coming from Balde, the penalty was clear. The Barça central defender’s arm was completely separated from his body and he deflected the ball, which headed towards the goal and ended up elsewhere in the area for that reason.
Disbelief in Montilivi over penalty
The scene was one of total disbelief towards Montilivi and the Girona players, unable to understand why the penalty had been disallowed and even more so when Abel Ruiz had already placed the ball on the referee’s orders. Even the fourth official showed the added time before the VAR review and if the penalty was not taken before, it was not because Muñiz Ruiz was going to go to the video referee to see the play but because of the technique – successfully – of Ter Stegen, that is to say, he lost time, delaying the launch, time that the VAR took advantage of to change the referee’s decision on the pitch.
The game took place just before half-time, with the score at 0-2. Barcelona dominated at all times in the first half against Girona with two goals from Lamine Yamal.
