Guti says Cancelo challenge should have led to VAR intervention in Clasico

Guti has criticised the decision not to involve the video assistant referee after Joao Cancelo’s challenge on Yan Diomande during Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory in the first Clasico of the season.

Speaking as a pundit on Dazn’s coverage of the match, the former Real Madrid player said the incident was serious enough to warrant a review, believing the tackle may have met the threshold for a sending-off under updated refereeing regulations.

“I find it unreasonable that VAR did not intervene,” Guti said.

The incident occurred in the second half as Cancelo and Diomande competed for possession. The Real Madrid winger appeared to be attempting to escape the Barcelona defender’s challenge when Cancelo, unable to match his movement, extended his leg.

His studs made contact with the lower part of Diomande’s leg, close to the ankle, as the player was trying to break free.

According to Dazn’s report of Guti’s comments, the former midfielder considered the tackle one of the situations that could have been reviewed because of the force involved.

Under the new amendments to the Laws of the Game, a challenge of that nature at ankle level could have resulted in a direct red card for Cancelo for serious foul play. Such a decision would have had the potential to alter the course of the match, which was why Guti wanted VAR to examine the incident.

Diomande was forced to leave the pitch for one minute to receive treatment after the contact. The timing of what followed increased the concern surrounding the challenge: Barcelona scored through Raphinha only a minute and a half after the Ivorian had gone off.

Diomande was back on the field when the goal was scored, but the timing of the incident meant the goal initially overshadowed the tackle itself. Concern among Real Madrid supporters later turned to anger as they questioned why the challenge had not been reviewed.

The match ended 2-1 in favour of Real Madrid, with the limited refereeing controversy centred on the Cancelo-Diomande incident rather than the result itself.

The La Liga listings accompanying the report include Barcelona against Deportivo Alaves on 31 October 2026. Racing Santander are scheduled to play Real Madrid on 01 November 2026.