Overview
- With Madrid leading 2-1 at Mendizorroza, a late challenge on Vinicius Jr was not penalized and VAR official Pablo González Fuertes did not send referee Víctor García Verdura to the monitor.
- Head coach Xabi Alonso called it a clear penalty and said he was surprised there was no VAR consultation, as the club declined to offer players in the mixed zone after the match.
- Real Madrid TV aired an on‑screen broadside alleging the decision was not human error, singling out García Verdura and González Fuertes and invoking the Negreira affair.
- In his Christmas address, president Florentino Pérez labeled the Negreira case the biggest scandal in football, criticized LaLiga and the RFEF, and said Madrid will continue as a private prosecutor.
- Vinicius was captured saying the referee did not whistle because it was him, while Alavés coach Eduardo Coudet said the incident could have been either a penalty or a second yellow for the winger.