Penalties, expulsions...! Barça suffers the robbery of the century in the Cup final against Madrid

The first penalty: Valverde's foul on Cubarsí not sanctioned

FC Barcelona was leading on the scoreboard when Valverde committed a clear penalty on Pau Cubarsí. The Azulgrana youth player was brought down inside the area when he was looking to shoot at goal, in an action that could have meant 2-0 and put the final on track for Hansi Flick's team.

Neither De Burgos Bengoetxea nor the VAR considered the play worthy of review, fueling the indignation of the players and Culé fans.

Second controversy: Ceballos on Cubarsí

Minutes later, Dani Ceballos again brought down Cubarsí in the area. The young Azulgrana defender, one of the revelations of the season, was the object of a very clear obstruction that went unnoticed by the referee and the VAR team led by González Fuertes.

Again, no review or sanction, leaving Barça without another opportunity to increase their advantage at a crucial moment in the match.

Third play: penalty by Rüdiger on Ferran Torres

In the last play of regular time, Antonio Rüdiger committed a very clear penalty on Ferran Torres. The Azulgrana forward was run over inside the area when he was about to finish what could have been the definitive 3-2.

Far from going to the monitor, De Burgos Bengoetxea let the game continue, while the VAR remained silent. A very serious error that, according to many analysts, changed the course of the final.

See here Barrenechea Montero's analysis of the penalty on Ferran.

The penalty on Raphinha: from being awarded to being overturned

The only time the referee awarded a penalty in favor of Barça was after an action by Asensio on Raphinha. However, after consulting the VAR, De Burgos decided to overturn his own decision and caution the Brazilian player for alleged simulation.

The play, full of controversy, generated a wave of indignation on social networks and among arbitration experts, who consider that, although the contact may have been slight, there were not sufficient reasons to sanction Raphinha with a yellow card.

See the review of the penalty on Raphinha here.

The question many are asking: why weren't the actions reviewed?

1. Why didn't they review Valverde's penalty on Cubarsí?
2. Why didn't they review Ceballos' penalty on Cubarsí?
3. Why didn't they review Rüdiger's penalty on Ferran?
4. Why didn't they review Tchouameni's criminal tackle on Dani Olmo?

A pattern that repeats itself: recent precedents

The refereeing performance in this Cup final is not an isolated case. In recent seasons, clubs such as Celta de Vigo, Leganés and Real Sociedad have also denounced serious refereeing errors in decisive matches against Real Madrid.

The feeling of impunity and protection towards the white team has increased after what happened in La Cartuja, fueling theories about the lack of transparency in Spanish football.

Consequences: extra time, wear and tear and damage in Champions League

With normal refereeing, FC Barcelona would have closed the final in regular time. However, the need to play extra time has increased the physical fatigue of the squad, at a critical moment in the season, with vital commitments in the Champions League in sight.

The extra effort demanded of the team could take its toll in Europe, further aggravating the consequences of the refereeing decisions taken (or not taken) in the final.

The voice of the experts: clear penalty on Ferran

Former referee Barrenechea Montero was blunt in his statements: "The penalty on Ferran Torres was very clear, but not the alleged last penalty on Raphinha." An assessment that coincides with the majority perception of arbitration experts after analyzing the images.

What does the regulation say?

According to the FIFA and IFAB regulations, any action that recklessly knocks down or obstructs a player inside the area must be sanctioned as a penalty, regardless of the intensity of the contact. In this case, the images clearly show Rüdiger's foul on Ferran, as well as the previous actions on Cubarsí.

Conclusion: a robbery that cannot go unpunished

FC Barcelona was the victim of one of the most controversial refereeing performances in recent times in Spanish football. Four penalties not awarded, two red cards forgiven and a final conditioned from the start. A scenario that generates a deep wound in Barcelona fans and raises serious doubts about the cleanliness of the competition.

Luckily, Barça managed to become champion despite everything, in one of the greatest achievements in the club's recent history, fighting not only against their rival on the field, but also against external factors that seem to want to prevent it.