Barcelona president slams VAR 'disgrace' in Real Madrid game as title race impacted

Barcelona president Joan Laporta slammed the officiating in La Liga after Real Madrid benefited from three VAR decisions during their 3-2 comeback win over Almeria.

Los Blancos were 2-0 down at halftime against the division’s bottom side, only to be handed a route back into the match after they were controversially awarded a penalty for a handball by Kaiky Fernandes. Jude Bellingham duly converted the spot-kick.

Almeria thought they had restored their two-goal advantage in the 61st minute, only for VAR to rule out Sergio Arribas's strike for a foul on Bellingham in the build-up.

Moments later Real levelled through Vinicius Jr. While referee Hernandez Maeso initially awarded a free-kick for Almeria, a VAR review saw the on-field decision overruled and a Real goal given. The Spanish giants then went on to win the game, courtesy of a 99th-minute winner from Dani Carvajal.

And speaking at the Mundo Deportivo Grand Gala Barcelona president Laporta was furious at the VAR fortune Real encountered.

He said via Forbes: "What happened at the Bernabeu was a disgrace.

"I think that the refereeing collective has to respond to a series of pressures that have occurred throughout the season with the referees.

"If they do not respond, they leave us very uneasy. Because we understand that there is an abandonment of functions.”

Laporta added, in reference to the Blaugrana's 4-2 victory over Real Betis: "In any case, I'm happy because we won yesterday.

"We feel stronger and more cohesive, but what we want is for there to be sporting rewards and on a day that we could have cut points [i.e. Madrid's lead over them in the table].

"[However] due to a refereeing decision, due to a VAR re-refereeing, it has not happened."

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez also hit out at the decisions in the Real game after his side’s 4-2 win.

Xavi said: "It's not the first time something like this has happened to me here.

"I already said in Getafe that it was going to be very difficult to win this league. There are people who don't remember but I think we could have six more points in this championship.

"I remember the penalty in the Coliseum, the resounding penalty against Raphinha, Joao Felix's goal in Granada... They are not excuses, they are realities, 95th-minute situations that always come up ... There are things that we do not control, everyone has seen it today."