The arbitration file contains the insult that the team manager gave to the referee; Rakitic’s anger and Mendilibar’s opinion.
On Saturday night, Girona surged through Nervión, stealing a win from a Sevilla side that entered the season with three losses already on the board. The Catalan visitors edged out a 1-2 victory to claim their second consecutive win, but the outcome might have looked different if VAR had not summoned Gil Manzano to review a late-game penalty call.
Sevilla endured a tough second half where momentum seemed to tilt against them. A genuine Ivan Rakitic goal was ruled offside, and after a VAR review, Manzano initially pointed to a penalty for a handball by David López following a direct free kick from Rakitic. The decision was later reversed, with the referee deciding that López’s hand was not intentional and there would be no penalty whistle, prompting a chorus of whistles from the home crowd at Sánchez Pizjuán. The tension among the players and coaching staff intensified as the final whistle approached.
In the minutes after the match, the conversation inside the tunnel reflected the heated exchange that followed the overturned call. Sevilla’s sporting director, Víctor Orta, reportedly directed sharp words toward the officiating crew, reflecting the club’s frustration with the sequence that led to the major penalty decision being overturned. The dialogue translated into a pointed claim that the officials had erred in a critical moment, fueling debates about the consistency of refereeing in high-stakes games.
Jose Luis Mendilibar, Sevilla’s head coach, spoke to the press about the incident with a mix of disappointment and disbelief. He argued that a penalty that seemed obvious at first glance had rapidly become unclear after a quick look at the replays. He questioned the reliance on VAR if it could still produce a result that seemed at odds with the on-field whistle. He stressed that his team did not enjoy the luck needed to counter the night’s decisions, and that sentiment helped explain the loss.
Ivan Rakitic also voiced his frustration after the final whistle, calling for clarity from the officials. He suggested that referees should be willing to explain their decisions on the spot and that experience should translate into a better understanding of the modern game. Rakitic implied that decades in the sport should bring a deeper appreciation for how game flow can be affected by official judgments, and he hinted at a broader concern about the consistency of calls in future matches.
This sequence of events highlighted a broader debate about the role of referees and technology in football. VAR is intended to assist decision-making and curb clear errors, yet the perception of some calls remains divided among players, coaches, and fans. The clash between on-field decisions and video-assisted reviews can shape the pace of a game, influence team morale, and color how supporters remember the match in the days that follow.
While Girona celebrated their victory, the incident left Sevilla with lingering questions about officiating standards and the interpretation of penalties under pressure. The night underscored the emotional toll refereeing decisions can exert on teams and their leadership, especially when late-game moments could alter the course of the season for a club fighting to secure early results.
Ultimately, Girona left with three points and a narrative about resilience, while Sevilla had to reflect on the wide-reaching implications of a single decision in a tightly contested league. The echoes of the night will likely fuel discussions about how advantages and setbacks are recognized and reviewed in the high-stakes world of top-tier football.
Citation: Goal