Referee Jesús Gil Manzano left the Espanyol players and his coaching staff in suspense after a controversial decision in the first half of the match against Racing de Santander. In the 40th minute, Racing midfielder Cala ran down the right wing and, while attempting a self-pass, was intercepted by central defender Pablo Ramón, who placed his hand on the ball. For the parakeets, the play was a clear penalty, but the referee did not recognize it.
The VAR, after consulting the television monitor, determined that the action had been a previous foul by Roberto, the Racing forward, for a grab. This decision annulled the penalty that would have favored Espanyol and provoked the indignation of the bench and the parakeet players, who protested vehemently. Manolo, Espanyol's coach, received a yellow card for his complaints to the referee authority.
The incident was not the first that has generated controversy around Gil Manzano. Espanyol fans remember with resentment their performance in the Mestalla match in May 2023, when a referee ruling was considered decisive for the club's fall to the second division. On Espanyol's official
Despite the controversy, the first half ended goalless, with a goalless tie. Racing showed slight dominance on the field, although both teams made mistakes that influenced the result. The second half of the match is expected to be more decisive, with both teams looking for the goal that will allow them to advance in the standings.