Racing Santander boss blasts VAR over Mbappé penalty in Madrid clash

Racing Santander manager José Alberto launched a sharp critique of match officials following his team’s La Liga defeat against Real Madrid on Sunday evening. The controversy centered on a penalty awarded to Kylian Mbappé, which the French forward converted to give Madrid the lead.

Manager questions VAR consistency

Speaking to DAZN, Alberto expressed frustration with the selective application of video technology. "We don't care what they explain to us," he stated. He questioned why the video assistant referee intervenes in certain matches and specific cases but remains silent in others, noting that this inconsistency was his primary concern.

The Racing coach acknowledged that the decision to cancel a second-half penalty for his side, following a handball review, aligned with the correct interpretation of VAR protocols. However, he disputed the initial call that favored Madrid. Regarding the incident involving Mbappé, Alberto argued that observers would see no foul occurred, emphasizing that while contact is permitted, bringing an opponent down or holding them is not.

Reference to Mourinho's Clásico remarks

Alberto drew parallels between his experience and recent comments made by José Mourinho. He recalled Mourinho’s press conference statement suggesting that if VAR technology were "on holiday," it might be inactive during their match as well. This reference highlighted a growing sentiment among coaches regarding the reliability of officiating tools.

Mourinho had previously slammed VAR during the Clásico, specifically citing its silence on João Cancelo’s challenge against Yan Diomande. The former Chelsea manager believed the Barcelona defender should have been sent off, stating that the video technology appeared "asleep" at the 60-minute mark despite the severity of the tackle.

Despite the officiating disputes, Alberto conceded that Real Madrid performed well, particularly dominating the first half-hour. He maintained, however, that the early penalty decision ultimately determined the outcome of the contest.