Overview
- At La Cartuja on Saturday, referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea reviewed the build-up at the pitchside monitor and ruled Giovani Lo Celso's 2-2 finish out after VAR flagged a handball by Cucho Hernández earlier in the attack.
- Real Betis staff and players protested strongly after the decision and manager Manuel Pellegrini received a yellow card for his complaints.
- Refereeing bodies and ex-official Iturralde Gonzalez defended the call, citing the law on an arm in an 'unnatural position' and VAR protocol that allows review of earlier actions in the same sequence.
- Critics and Madrid-aligned outlets accused bias, pointing out the flagged contact occurred roughly 15 seconds before the shot and saying a prior push on Cucho may affect how direct the handball was to the goal.
- The incident, combined with a standing Betis header that was not reviewed and Facundo Bernal's later red card, has intensified debate over VAR consistency and risks further eroding fan trust in La Liga officiating.