Mbappe penalty for Real Madrid against Racing Santander criticised by refereeing analysts

Kylian Mbappe was awarded a penalty in the opening minutes of Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Racing Santander, but a specialist refereeing platform said the decision was incorrect.

Mbappe went down inside the penalty area after Racing midfielder Matteo Prati placed his arm in the forward’s path as he ran into the box. Racing Santander players strongly protested the award.

Mbappe converted the spot-kick to give Real Madrid the opening goal.

Refereeing analysis account Archivo VAR questioned why the video assistant referee had not intervened at El Sardinero.

“VAR washed its hands at El Sardinero,” the account said in a post on X.

It added: “Prati made light contact with Mbappe’s stomach and, when he felt the contact, the French player threw himself to the ground.”

Archivo VAR then gave a clear assessment of the incident: “It is not a penalty. There is no connection between the defender’s intervention and the French player’s fall.”

Real Madrid are also scheduled to face Malaga in the Champions League on 04 November 2026, before Racing Santander’s La Liga fixture on 07 November 2026.