Calatrava says Vinicius Junior kick was accidental after Espanyol controversy

Alex Calatrava has defended his challenge on Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, insisting the kick came during a contest for the ball and was not deliberate, after the incident sparked renewed criticism of refereeing decisions involving Real Madrid.

The Espanyol player was not shown a card after appearing to kick Vinicius while the Brazilian was on the ground. The decision angered Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho and prompted further debate, with many viewers arguing that Calatrava should at least have received a yellow card.

Calatrava said the referee and the video assistant referee both judged that the contact was unintentional. His comments were reported by Spanish website Defensa Central.

“During the play with Vinicius, I tried to pass the ball and then stopped. It was completely unintentional, and the referee and VAR interpreted it that way,” said Calatrava.

He added that he considered the decision not to caution him fair.

The controversy centred on a replay showing Calatrava making contact with Vinicius from behind while the Real Madrid player was lying on the pitch. Critics questioned whether the action could reasonably be viewed as part of a genuine attempt to play the ball, because it appeared to be out of the Espanyol player’s reach and there was no clear opportunity to win possession.

The debate intensified before half-time when Calatrava was booked after another coming-together with Vinicius. That later yellow card led to suggestions that an earlier caution could have had significant consequences, potentially leaving Calatrava at risk of being sent off during the match.

The incident also revived memories among Real Madrid supporters of another controversial moment at Espanyol’s ground. In that match, Carlos Romero made a forceful challenge from behind on Kylian Mbappe, making contact around the knee. No red card was shown for that tackle, and Romero later scored the winning goal for Espanyol.

Two seasons on, controversy has once again followed a meeting involving Real Madrid at Cornella, although the outcome was different this time. Real Madrid left with all three points, while Calatrava became the focus of fresh criticism over his contact with Vinicius.

The latest episode has added to the wider scrutiny of refereeing calls in Real Madrid matches. While Calatrava maintains that the kick was accidental, the replay and the fact that he was later booked for another challenge on Vinicius ensured that the decision remained a major talking point after the game.