Barcelona could ask for El Clasico replay over Lamine Yamal 'phantom goal' in Real Madrid loss - Joan Laporta
ByTNT Sports
Updated 22/04/2024 at 17:38 GMT+1
There was big drama in Sunday's El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Bernabeu, with officials ruling that Lamine Yamal's effort had not been fumbled over the line by Los Blancos goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. It was a decision which angered Barca president Joan Laporta, goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and head coach Xavi. Laporta has said the club will consider legal action if necessary.
No Filter UCL - Real Madrid edge out Man City in shoot-out on dramatic night
Barcelona president Joan Laporta says he will not rule out taking legal action or replaying El Clasico if it is discovered that Lamine Yamal's shot crossed the line in Barcelona's 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid on Sunday.
With no goal-line technology available in La Liga, a VAR ruling instead determined that Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin had prevented Yamal’s shot from crossing the line at 1-1.
The visitors insisted the ball had crossed the line, but the goal was not given and Real went on to win the match.
The result effectively brought an end to Barcelona's title challenge with Carlo Ancelotti's side now 11 points clear of their fierce Catalan rivals with just six games left to play.
Laporta has said in an official statement that Barca will request the audio and video footage from the Spanish FA's technical refereeing committee to see if the goal should have stood. Laporta has referred to Lamal's strike as a "phantom goal".
He said: "Yesterday, there were several debatable incidents but amongst all of them there is one that is crucial and can change the result of the game.
"I am referring to the ‘phantom goal’ by Lamine. As a club we want to be sure about what happened, and it is for that reason that from FCB we will make an immediate request to the Technical Refereeing Commitee at the Spanish Football Federation for a comprehensive collection of footage and audio from the incident.
"If, once this documentation has been analysed, the club understands that an error was made in the revision of the incident, we will take all available measures to reverse the situation, without discounting, obviously, any necessary legal action."
Laporta added that Barcelona could ask for the game to be replayed if the ball was found to have crossed the line.
He said the club "do not discount requesting that the game to be replayed, just as has happened in another game in Europe due to a VAR error".
Laporta is referring to a Belgian Pro League match between Anderlecht and Genk on December 22 which was replayed in full due to a VAR error.
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and head coach Xavi slammed La Liga’s decision not to implement goal-line technology.
"I can't find the words to explain what happened on the goal line," Ter Stegen told the media after the match. "It's embarrassing for football. There is a lot of money in this industry, but not for what is important.
"I don't understand how there cannot be money to implement the technology that other leagues have."
Barca head coach Xavi also reflected on the incident in his post-match press conference and concurred with is goalkeeper’s opinion.
"I completely agree [with Ter Stegen]," Xavi added.
"It's embarrassing that there is not goal-line technology. If we want to say this is the best league in the world, we need it.
"Everyone has seen it. What can I say? [The league] can sanction me. The images are there. The feeling today is of complete injustice.
"I said before the match that I hoped the referee would go unnoticed and get the decisions right," he continued. "In the end, neither of the two have happened."
Andreas Christensen and Fermin Lopez twice gave Barcelona the lead, but a goal from Lucas Vazquez and Jude Bellingham's stoppage time strike, after a Vinicius Junior's 18th-minute penalty, gave Carlo Ancelotti's men three crucial points.
Xavi was pleased with his side’s display on the night, but admits that the title race "is practically done".
"I am proud of the team, especially in the second half," Xavi explained.
"We tried. We were good, but mistakes have cost us the defeat.
"Normally, based on how the game went, we win. We deserved the victory. We created more and defended well. We controlled the game."
"La Liga is 38 games long, and you have to congratulate [Madrid]. They have had just one defeat all season, and the title is practically done now."
- - -
TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement