VAR audio from Real Madrid's controversial win over Almeria released after club account calls out officials

VAR audio from Real Madrid's controversial La Liga win has been released after Almeria's official X account criticised the match officials.

Real Madrid pulled off a dramatic comeback win at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday against winless strugglers Almeria.

The visitors went into half-time with a shock 2-0 lead, but Los Blancos scored three goals after the break to claim a 3-2 win and stay one point behind league leaders Girona.

Jude Bellingham pulled one goal back from the penalty spot, before Vinicius Jr levelled the game and Dani Carvajal snatched a 99th minute winner. However, the comeback was marred by VAR controversy with three major decisions going against Almeria.

Carlo Ancelotti's side were awarded a penalty after VAR Hernandez Hernandez spotted a handball in the penalty area. The ball appeared to be headed onto the defender's arm from close range by Joselu, while there was a potential foul committed in the build-up by Antonio Rudiger. However, referee Francisco Jose Hernandez Maeso awarded the spot-kick anyway.

There was further controversy when Almeria thought they had restored their two-goal advantage, with Sergio Arribas finishing off a fine counter-attack.

The goal was given on the field, but the VAR recommended the referee check for a potential foul committed on Bellingham inside the Almeria half. The 20-year-old went down clutching his face after minimal contact, and after a review the goal was chalked off.

🤔 ¿Por qué no se le muestran al árbitro el resto de ángulos que hemos podido ver en TV? https://t.co/tGc8fTusvu

— UD Almería (@U_D_Almeria) January 21, 2024

Madrid's equaliser caused even more Almeria outrage. Vinicius Jr's effort was ruled out as the ball appeared to canon off his arm, but Hernandez Hernandez urged the referee to change his decision because "the ball hits the right shoulder, there you have it. The ball hits him on the shoulder."

Maeso responded: "I agree with you and the ball hits the shoulder. Give me one more frame. Perfect, he hits it with his shoulder and it's a valid goal. I'm going to give the goal, there's no foul."

Almeria's official X account (formerly Twitter) took exception to this, as television replays not seen by the officials appeared to show the ball hitting Vinicius' bicep rather than shoulder.

The club tweeted: "Why aren't the referees shown the rest of the angles that we have been able to see on TV?"

There was nothing controversial about Carvajal's winner in the ninth minute of injury-time, but by then Almeria were already seething.

After the game, Almeria midfielder Gonzalo Melero said: "What happened today went beyond all limits, it was unbelievable. Nothing more could have been done for them to win the game."

Defender Marc Pubill went even further, telling DAZN: "I think that someone decided that we weren’t allowed to win here at the Bernabeu today, and that’s what happened. Nothing more to say."

Almeria are winless and rock bottom of the table having earned just six points from 21 points this season. It remains to be seen whether they will be punished by La Liga or the Spanish FA for publicly criticising match officials.