In the world of football, the referee's whistle often determines the direction of a match. However, in a clash between Valencia and Real Madrid, the whistle became the source of all controversy. Real Madrid faced multiple "unfair" decisions in this dramatic encounter, from overlooked fouls to red cards that sparked outrage, and the VAR's "mysterious silence." This ordinary La Liga match turned into a storm of controversy, leaving us to question: Is the referee the guardian of the game or the creator of disputes?
The Mestalla Stadium, known as Valencia's "devil's home ground," has never shied away from tough battles, even against superpowers like Real Madrid. Despite a recent decline in performance, Valencia has managed two wins and two draws in their last five home matches against Real Madrid, losing only once. When facing Real Madrid, Valencia always brings their A-game, sometimes even exceeding expectations.
The match started with Valencia showing great initiative, and in the 27th minute, they finally broke through Real Madrid's defenses. Duro scored during a quick counterattack, sending the crowd into a frenzy. However, slow-motion replays quickly plunged the goal into controversy—earlier, Rodrigo appeared to be fouled by a Valencia player during a challenge, but the referee took no action.
This scene infuriated the Real Madrid players on the field, while Ancelotti, sitting on the bench, spread his arms and shook his head repeatedly. Was the referee really blind, or did they choose to "turn a blind eye"? No one could tell.
In the second half, Real Madrid attempted to intensify their attack and finally earned a penalty in the 59th minute. This was a crucial moment that could change the fate of the match, and standing at the penalty spot was the team's star player for the season, Bellingham. But as fans often say, the more critical the moment, the more likely it is to falter—Bellingham's shot hit the post, and the penalty was missed!
Even more astonishing was the slow-motion replay showing Valencia's goalkeeper moving forward before Bellingham's kick, with someone already entering the penalty area. According to the rules, this should have resulted in a retake, yet the referee and VAR were as if "blind," taking no action. This was not the first time Real Madrid had faced penalty controversies this season; statistics show they have been awarded the most penalties in La Liga with eight, yet have never been penalized themselves, leading to speculation about the referee's "double standards"—must the big clubs suffer silently?
If the penalty became the main course of controversy throughout the match, then the Vinicius incident that followed was undoubtedly the spiciest "hot pepper" in the game. In the 79th minute, Vinicius fell in the penalty area and signaled to the referee that there was a foul, but the referee blew the whistle without awarding a penalty. This decision clearly ignited Vinicius' emotions, leading to a physical altercation with Valencia's goalkeeper, resulting in a red card and his immediate dismissal.
It's worth noting that the feud between these two players was not spontaneous. Over several previous encounters, they had accumulated significant animosity, with Valencia's goalkeeper even expressing considerable hostility towards Vinicius in pre-match media interviews. This series of feuds erupted in this match, and regardless of the circumstances, the referee's decision to only give Vinicius a red card while not punishing the goalkeeper caused an uproar.
But football is never just about negative emotions; there are always lessons to be learned and moments of brilliance. Faced with unfavorable decisions, Real Madrid did not lose their composure. Ancelotti calmly adjusted tactics in the second half, targeting Valencia's defensive weaknesses by strengthening midfield control, using quick counterattacks to strike opponents, and creating threats by having more players enter the offensive zone. Despite being down a man, the team fought with all their might and eventually scored two fantastic goals in the dying minutes of the match to achieve a 2-1 comeback victory, securing three points.
Winning amidst widespread controversy and criticism, the "cockroach that can't be killed" spirit was undoubtedly the biggest highlight of Real Madrid's match. At the end of the game, Ancelotti, seated on the coaching bench, showed a rare smile—his calmness and tactical adjustments had turned the tide for the team, highlighting the difference between a top coach and an average one.
After the match, Real Madrid's official media launched a near-shouting accusation, directly pointing out the "unfairness" of the referees and league management. "We didn't just defeat Valencia; we defeated this dirty league and the referees' committee!" This fiery statement quickly caused a stir in public opinion and pushed the issue of La Liga referees onto the hot topic list. In such a situation, the refereeing standards and VAR system's usage discrepancies have become an undeniable "scar" for the entire league.
In fact, controversies surrounding La Liga referees are not new, and similar incidents have occurred in matches involving different teams.
Whether it's a misunderstanding of the rules or inconsistent application, the long-term existence of these issues is undermining the credibility of the league. For mid-table teams like Valencia and giants like Real Madrid, the ultimate conflict extends beyond the pitch to public discussions about their long-term relationship.
Despite the controversies, this victory proves that Real Madrid remains a formidable force, even in adversity. "Referees may make decisions, but victories are won through skill!" The competitive spirit and technical quality displayed in the match ultimately keep the charm of football alive. How will La Liga face the challenges posed by refereeing issues in the future? Perhaps, we can only wait and see.