The Royal Spanish Football Federation Competition Committee met this week to address and resolve all disputes regarding arbitration from the Galician referee Iglesias Villanueva, officiating the Elche CF versus Betis match held at the Madrid venue Cerro Grande, including VAR decisions from the prior Friday’s Elche-Betis encounter.
9 controversial games of Elche-Betis
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Judges did not show mercy toward Elche, rejecting appeals submitted by the Franjiverde club and imposing significant sanctions on players and staff. The penalties included substantial fines for the latter group.
Elche to appeal Magallán expulsion and yellow card to Helibelton Palacios
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Predictably, the most notable moment involved Pape Cheikh, and Iglesias Villanueva noted in the minutes that Palacios was cautioned for addressing the fourth official with a remark. The Elche midfielder received four matches and a fine of 2,400 euros. The competition also reported a red card for Lisandro Magallán and a penalty of 350 euros plus 600 euros for Enzo Rojo, who was dismissed with a double yellow.
The moment when Iglesias Villanueva showed Magallán a red card was captured in a photograph.
Helibelton Palacios did not receive the yellow card in the 91st minute, though television footage shows nothing reckless toward a Betis player. The Colombian saw 180 penalties in response to the incident, while coach Pablo Machín and midfielder Gerard Gumbau also faced the same financial sanction, along with a card for the coach.
During the match, the referee directed Machín.
Elche submitted allegations regarding Palacios’ card and Magallán’s expulsion. The club’s representatives said that during locker room area incidents, Chris Bragarnik spoke aggressively, and the club staff recorded the exchanges on a mobile device, describing them in strong terms.
Elche-Betis referee also points Bragarnik and Mantecón
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According to the competition minutes and proceedings, these cases were dismissed on several grounds: the 90+3 incident involving Palacios and the 57th minute expulsion of Magallán, plus the actions attributed to Bragarnik, Mantecón, and Schinocca. The committee determined that there were no substantiated factual errors in the videographic evidence presented, and it found no clear misconduct or goal-scoring opportunity that would justify the overturned decisions.
Second. The panel noted that the arbitration record should be considered accurate unless a clear material error is demonstrated. If a manifest error exists, it can be addressed through appropriate channels.
Third. The committee emphasized that video evidence is a valid tool for questioning the content of arbitration acts when a clear factual error is proven. The Competition Committee is responsible for comparing the record with the appellant’s claims and determining whether the minutes reflect the facts as they occurred.
In short, only a clear factual error can overcome the presumption of accuracy of the arbitration record and allow for the reversal of a reprimand. Regarding the present case, the committee concluded that the dismissals and penalties were justified given the timing and context of the observed actions.
The assessment highlighted that the decisions of the referee on game facts are generally final, with the possibility of correction only in cases of obvious errors. The arbitration document carries an evidentiary weight that can be challenged with proven, manifest errors. The body noted that the official record must be respected unless demonstrable errors are shown.
Ultimately, the board’s stance reinforced that the recorded incidents were treated under established rules, and the penalties reflected the gravity and sequence of the events.