Del Cerro Grande causes a stir in VAR: 2 goals disallowed for Barça and 1 validated to Real Sociedad

Published New:18/01/2026 - 22:04h

Updated New:18/01/2026 - 22:05h

The first half of the Real Sociedad-Barça match at Anoeta showed a clear double standard from VAR, heavily favoring the San Sebastián team. Fermín López and Lamine Yamal had two goals disallowed by Del Cerro Grande

FC Barcelona once again suffered with Carlos del Cerro Grande at Anoeta, for matchday 20 of LaLiga EA Sports 2025-26. The referee from Madrid, in charge of VAR in the match against Real Sociedad, was a protagonist with up to three very controversial decisions, all detrimental to the Barça team.

Goal disallowed for Fermín López due to a questionable foul by Dani Olmo

In the 7th minute, the referee called Jesús Gil Manzano, the main official of the match, to review a supposed stomp by Dani Olmo on Takefusa Kubo prior to a spectacular goal from outside the box by Fermín López. The touch by the player from Terrassa on the Japanese player was slight, but enough to convince the referees to disallow the Barça goal.

Lamine Yamal's heel, protagonist of an imperceptible offside

Lamine Yamal offside against Real Sociedad

20 minutes later, Lamine Yamal also saw the semi-automatic VAR disallow another goal for him. The player from Mataró took advantage of a loose ball after a dispute between Igor Zubeldia and Jules Koundé to blast it past Álex Remiro with a cross shot.

However, the linesman raised his flag, considering the winger's right foot to be offside. The VAR image did not clarify the doubts, nor did the match broadcast (courtesy of 'DAZN') determine whether the ball came off a touch from Zubeldia or Koundé.

Lamine, in stoppage time, drew a clear penalty from Zubeldia, but **the foul was disallowed for another millimeter offside** by the Barça youth player. This time it was his right thigh that was slightly ahead.

Oyarzabal's goal preceded by a foul by Aramburu

Then, in the 32nd minute, Mikel Oyarzabal put Real Sociedad ahead with a goal preceded by a clear foul (push) by Jon Aramburu on Dani Olmo. This time there was no call from Del Cerro Grande to review the action. Nor were lines drawn to see if Gonçalo Guedes was offside when he took the cross that the '10' from San Sebastián volleyed in.

CONFIRMED

There was a foul on Dani Olmo in the Real goal.

The robbery is historic.pic.twitter.com/kfE1J4ktSQ
— Universo FCBarcelona (@UNIVERSO_1899) January 18, 2026

Finally, Barça went into halftime at Anoeta trailing by three goals (one due to a clear offside by Frenkie de Jong) and with a penalty disallowed, in addition to suffering a goal that should have been ruled out for a prior foul.