The choices of Melero López under scrutiny.
Mario Melero López had a demanding schedule as the season’s early rounds unfolded, including a high-stakes match at the Santiago Bernabéu where Real Madrid hosted Getafe for the fourth round of LaLiga 2023-2024. This overview revisits the major refereeing moments of the Spanish capital clash, highlighting how officiating shaped the game and the conversations that followed.
Stay updated with Real Madrid vs. Getafe as LaLiga 2023-24 progresses.
Rüdiger avoids a red card for a tackle on Borja Mayoral and potential penalties involving Bellingham
The first notable moment arrived around the mid-point of the first half when Bellingham went down in the box amid a challenge from Carles Aleñá. Melero López immediately signaled a penalty for Madrid, only for VAR to intervene and reverse the decision. The English forward had already begun to prepare for the contact when the azulón player arrived, and replays suggested minimal if any contact occurred.
There was immediate reaction following the decision, with observers describing the call as harsh or inconsistent, noting that Bellingham had not clearly been impeded. Fans and pundits debated whether the contact warranted a foul or a dive, while the incident raised questions about the role of VAR in high-profile league matches.
Shortly after, another moment in the Getafe area brought Bellingham back into focus. This scenario looked more like a potential penalty than the earlier action, though it did not result in a call by the officials on the field. It underscored the difficulty referees face in judging contact in crowded penalty areas at pace.
As halftime approached, Antonio Rüdiger found himself in a risky challenge on Borja Mayoral. The German defender slipped the ball away from danger but then appeared to make contact with Mayoral’s right leg using the boot’s heel. It was a bold, potentially dangerous play that could have earned a caution or worse had the moment been judged differently, though both players escaped serious injury this time around.
Earlier in the first half, Madrid had protested another play when David Soria advanced out of his area to challenge for the ball and ended with an arm involved in a contact situation. The sequence could have produced a red card if VAR reviews had deemed it a definitive handball or obstruction, but an earlier offside call nullified the later intervention and left the on-pitch decision intact.
In the second half, Real Madrid leveled through a Joselu header from a corner. Although there was a previous play that looked offside, the assistants and VAR confirmed the goal after Modrić delivered a precise cross with the outside of his foot. The final call stood despite Getafe’s protests, with the 1-1 scoreline retained after review.
Source: Goal