Barcelona secured their fifth win in five in the 2024/25 La Liga season with a resounding away victory over Catalan rivals Girona.
Barca’s young star Lamine Yamal scored twice in the first half before further goals from Dani Olmo and Pedri gave Hansi Flick’s side control of the game. Cristhian Stuani grabbed a late consolation goal before Barca’s Ferran Torres was sent off in the dying minutes.
But it was a refereeing decision in the first half that caused the greatest consternation. At 2-0, Girona thought they had won a penalty for a handball by Inigo Martinez, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.
Many spectators were dismayed by the intervention, given that the ball clearly hit the back of Martinez’s arm. So why was the decision changed? Jugo Mobile explain.
Starboy does it again ?#LALIGAStrong points pic.twitter.com/TXKmHKjfwe
— LALIGA French (@LaLigaEN) September 15, 2024
Why did VAR overturn Girona’s penalty against Barcelona?
In the first half, Girona player Bryan Gil jumped to head Barça’s penalty with defenders Alejandro Balde and Inigo Martinez. The ball then hit Martinez’s arm, and referee Alejandro Muniz Ruiz awarded a penalty for handball.
However, the decision was overturned following a VAR check in which the on-field referee was asked to check the pitchside monitor.
At the time, it was unclear why the decision was changed. It was speculated that the referees had deemed a foul when Gil jumped with Martinez and Balde, or that Martinez’s handball could be excused because his back was turned to the ball at the time of contact.
However, it appears that the decision was made because it was Balde who deflected the ball onto Martinez’s arm, not Gil. Replays showed that the Girona player missed his header and the ball then fell to Balde and Martinez as the centre-back landed after his jump.
The refereeing analyst of Mundo Deportivo, Cesar Barrenechea Montero, explained by the Spanish media:”If the ball comes directly from a clearance by a teammate and unexpectedly lands on another defender, hitting him on the hand or arm, then the handball is not called.” Despite the clear explanation, suffice it to say that many fans were not happy with the decision.
Barça were then leading 2-0, thanks to a double from Lamine Yamal. Olmo scored two minutes into the second half, killing the game, before Pedri scored the fourth goal.
