Video refereeing has been a decisive element in the 2018-2019 season and, to date, has invalidated 42 goals that Real Madrid would have scored regularly. According to data published by MisterChip in
The first case on the list occurred in the match between Real Madrid and Villarreal. In the second half, Vinicius Junior scored a goal that, at the time, the field referee, Isidro Díaz de Mera, awarded without raising his hand. However, VAR referee Alejandro Muñiz detected an earlier foul when the forward grabbed Nathan Saliba by the hair. After the review, the goal was disqualified and the score was not the 2‑0 that Real had sought. This episode illustrates how VAR has corrected decisions that, if not reviewed, would have altered the outcome of matches.
Since the introduction of VAR, on-screen refereeing has had to annul the goals initially awarded to Real Madrid on 42 occasions. If the average is calculated, it is almost five goals per season that, without video refereeing, would have been valid. In contrast, the teams that have had their goals disallowed the most times are Atlético and Villarreal with 22 each, and a trio of clubs (Celta, Real Sociedad and Sevilla) with 20. FC Barcelona occupies seventh position with 19 disqualified goals, 23 more than Real Madrid.
In a hypothetical scenario in which Spanish football had continued without VAR between 2018 and 2026, Real Madrid would have won an average of 4.6 illegal goals per season, while Barça would have received 2.1. Atlético and Villarreal would have seen 2.4 goals disallowed each, and Celta, Real Sociedad and Sevilla 2.2. These figures underline the significant impact that VAR has had on the dynamics of matches and the accounting of team goals.
The next step will be to see how VAR will continue to influence the competition next season. With established video refereeing technology, referees and teams will have to adapt to the new reality where every play is subject to review, which, according to data, can change the outcome of matches and, ultimately, the league standings.