The match between Real Betis and FC Barcelona, played at the Benito Villamarín Stadium, was marked by a series of referee decisions that generated controversy on both sides. The referee De Burgos Bengoetxea, assisted by the VAR, annulled LoCelso's goal at 43 minutes by Cucho Hernández and also reviewed the play that led to the Catalans' 1‑3, although in the end no infraction by Fermín was sanctioned. In addition, Facundo Bernal was sent off after two headbutts to Lamine Yamal, while Barça claimed a foul prior to Abde's 2‑3 and an elbow from Fornals on Rodri that was not sanctioned.
LoCelso's goal, which would have tied the score at 2-2, was annulled after a review of the play in which the Betic player would have touched the ball with his left arm before it ended up in JoanGarcía's goal. The VAR confirmed the handball and the referee decided to annul the goal, which caused protests from both the players and the Betista fans. The same decision was maintained after the review of the 1‑3, where Betis claimed dangerous play on the part of Fermín, but the referee did not find an infraction that justified the annulment.
Regarding the expulsion of Bernal, the situation was triggered when the Betic player tried to avoid an intervention by the referee and the VAR in a play that culminated in a goal from Gabriel Jesús. Bernal, after receiving two headbutts from Lamine Yamal, responded with two light headbutts that led to his expulsion. The referee also showed Yamal a yellow card for his part in the altercation.
Barça, for its part, claimed a foul prior to Abde's goal (2‑3) when Fermín fell on the Barça striker during a dispute for the ball. The foul was not called either and the goal stood. In addition, the Catalan team reported an elbow from Fornals to Rodri that was not penalized by the referee or the VAR, although the Betista player himself apologized to the Barcelona player.
After the match, Barça coach Manuel Pellegrini strongly criticized the work of the referee team in an interview with DAZN and in a press conference, alleging that the decisions made favored the rival and that the lack of consistency in the application of the rules contributed to the team's frustration. Betis, for its part, will continue seeking a review of the decisions it considers unfair, while Barça will try to correct the errors that were perceived in the match.