Manchester City’s goal arrived amid a blaze of debate, with questions about why VAR did not intervene and how Real Madrid reacted during the Champions League clash in Madrid.
Manchester City carried momentum into the Bernabéu, and as Pep Guardiola’s side pressed, Kevin De Bruyne unleashed a powerful shot that drew the teams level in the Spanish capital. The moment, however, was overshadowed by a decision that seemed to hinge on the ball leaving play and the sequence that followed. Madrid argued the ball had exited the field on the right wing of the City attack, and beIN Sports later backed that claim with 3D replays showing the ball had clearly disappeared from the field in front of De Bruyne s strike. Lucas Vázquez, watching from the Madrid bench, asserted that a meter had come out of play, underscoring Madrid’s belief that the ball was out of play before the decisive touch.
At 1-1, the video assistant referee did not intervene to review whether the ball had left play, a decision that left Real Madrid supporters and players perplexed. The flow of the move began with Real Madrid losing the ball, before Camavinga won back possession and Real Madrid regained control, leading to De Bruyne’s equalizer. The sequence prompted discussions on whether the ball’s exit from the field could affect the legality of the goal once play had resumed. A widely circulated post from Goal Espana captured the moment, reinforcing the perception that the ball had left the field before De Bruyne’s strike and that the subsequent goal fell within a gray area for VAR review.
While the incident is debated, it is clear that the key issue centered on the timing and location of ball out of play and how that interacts with the awarding of a goal. Supporters of Manchester City point to the rapid nature of the attack, arguing that play had moved quickly from a contested possession to a finishing strike. Madrid, meanwhile, maintained that the ball had already left the field, which would render the goal invalid under standard rules. The fact that De Bruyne’s goal followed a turnover by Real Madrid after the Camavinga sequence adds further complexity to the interpretation of the play in question.
In the weeks that followed, analysts debated the nuances of the rule and the interpretation embedded in VAR protocols. The central question persisted: should a goal be reviewed if the ball has left the field moments earlier in the same attacking move? The consensus among many observers was that VAR cannot retroactively change a goal if the attacking move had already transitioned to a phase where the ball was no longer live, even if a later touch occurred near the goal area. This distinction helps explain why the officials did not overturn De Bruyne’s strike and why the match remained a talking point among fans and pundits alike.
Real Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed visible frustration with the officiating during the match. His objections were directed at decisions that appeared to limit the on-field flow of the game, and he voiced his critique of the refereeing approach during the exchange that included a yellow card. After the game, Ancelotti reflected on the moment and suggested that the referee could have responded differently, noting that some calls were not as sharp as expected. His remarks, though delivered in a firm tone, highlighted the emotional stakes of a high-profile clash between two European heavyweights.
This match remains a focal point in discussions about VAR accuracy and the balance between technology and human judgment in football. It underscores how interpretations of ball in and ball out can influence the perception of fairness and the eventual outcome of a game. The Bernabéu crowd, the Madrid bench, and City supporters all left with strong, divergent opinions about what was allowed under the match rules and how future incidents should be handled by referees and their assistants.
Ultimately, the event helped spark broader conversations about the thresholds for VAR intervention in tight episodes and the need for consistent application of the law across leagues and competitions. It also highlighted the enduring drama of the European Cup ties, where a single moment can shape the narrative surrounding a team, its form, and the judgment of the sport’s governing bodies.
Source: Goal