A fresh statement from a League club followed Sevilla’s brief remark released a few hours earlier, triggering renewed debate as Spanish football moves through a wave of arbitration scrutiny. The weekend began with controversy linked to refereeing decisions, and the sentiment echoed across teams: calls for more uniform treatment of players and clearer standards for VAR usage. Espanyol joined the conversation by voicing concerns about inconsistent criteria in officiating, particularly when video assistant technology is applied. The latest flashpoint involved a Braithwaite goal that Athletic Club influenced by Joselu Mato’s earlier handball, a call that fans and pundits say underscores the ongoing tension over VAR interpretation.
This is the full official text as issued.
RCD Espanyol de Barcelona expresses its disagreement and concern about refereeing actions throughout the season, with emphasis on the uneven criteria governing VAR review. The club notes a pattern of errors in the use of VAR technology that has especially affected its squad in recent matches. For example, in a Girona fixture, Vinicius de Souza appeared to be denied a potential penalty at the end of the game despite no clear contact in the box, while today VAR was used to disallow a Braithwaite goal for an earlier, disputed handball by Joselu Mato. The investigation reveals that Braithwaite’s goal was preceded by a contact where Athletic Club defender Vivian appears to grab Braithwaite’s arm inside the penalty area, making a voluntary handball by Braithwaite implausible and thus negating the goal. The match also saw a red card not shown for Dani García in the 42nd minute, as he halted a counterattack without a realistic chance to challenge the ball, an action judged differently under the regulations and VAR protocol. These decisions have a meaningful impact on the outcomes of back-to-back games and highlight how refereeing choices can swing results late in the season. The club also references earlier instances on matchdays two and seven where VAR interventions correlated with disputed disciplinary actions, including sends-offs that followed a VAR review. There was also a contrast on matchday nineteen in Almería involving Braithwaite, where a similar sequence did not trigger a VAR review for the opposing Danish forward. A distinctive moment across the season was the on-field assessment of a tight offside decision following several precise passes, which culminated in a penalty for Edu Expósito and potential red-card consequences for César de la Hoz. Additionally, a disallowed goal for Aleix Vidal on matchday eighteen appeared to be connected to a claimed prior foul by Puado, while another incident in which a rival player grabbed in the box did not receive VAR attention. The recurring thread in these episodes is the perceived disparity in VAR criteria and its effect on Espanyol’s competitive standing, raising concerns about consistency and fairness in officiating across matches.
The club states that it does not seek to excuse its own mistakes. It acknowledges the challenging nature of officiating and appreciates the efforts of referees. Nevertheless, it emphasizes that divergent standards in VAR application and in the enforcement of the rules have produced tangible harm. The message in this statement underlines a commitment to fair play and to the integrity of the competition, even as teams strive to adapt to the evolving landscape of decisions on the pitch. The goal remains clear: to ensure equal treatment for all players and teams through transparent, consistent, and accountable officiating across the league, a principle echoed by fans and analysts in Canada and the United States as well as Spain. This perspective aligns with ongoing discussions about improving VAR protocols, training, and criterion consistency to reduce ambiguous outcomes that affect the final standings in a tightly contested season.
Note: The content reflects reported assertions and observations circulating in football coverage, as cited in the periodical reporting available at Goal and echoed by league watchers and official club communications in North American commentary circles.