Mbappe penalty call and two other La Liga flashpoints face Spanish review

The Spanish Football Federation’s Technical Committee for Refereeing will meet on Monday to examine three controversial decisions from a weekend of disputed incidents, including the penalty awarded to Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe.

The most contentious moment came during Real Madrid’s match against Racing Santander at El Sardinero. Referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero pointed to the spot after a challenge involving Mbappe, prompting questions over whether the forward had been fouled.

The committee, chaired by Fran Soto, will also assess a separate incident from the Basque derby. Referee Alejandro Hernandez awarded Athletic Bilbao a penalty following contact between Aramburu and Nico Williams. The decision was not overturned by VAR, which was operated by Carlos del Cerro Grande.

The panel includes former international referee David Fernandez Borbalan, experts Fernando Lopez and Aitor Gorostegi, and VAR chief Eduardo Prieto Iglesias.

Questions over the contact on Mbappe

According to Mundo Deportivo, the review of the incident at El Sardinero will focus on two issues.

The first is whether the contact from Racing Santander defender Brati was sufficient to bring down Mbappe. The second is whether VAR referee Luis Mario Milla should have intervened and asked Munuera Montero to review the decision at the pitchside monitor.

Under the protocol, VAR will not intervene where it considers there has been some contact, however slight, unless the on-field decision is judged to be a clear and obvious error.

The second incident occurred in the Basque derby and led to Athletic Bilbao’s second goal. Hernandez was close to the action and awarded the decision himself, while VAR did not recommend a review.

Television coverage showed the use of Kinexon’s smart-ball technology, introduced in La Liga for the first time this season. The system indicated that the Real Sociedad player had not touched the ball, a factor that supported the decision not to send Hernandez to the monitor.

Getafe goal also under scrutiny

The committee’s review will also include a disputed Getafe goal following a challenge between Andres Garcia and Manu Bueno.

Referee Garcia Verdura initially awarded a foul after being advised to do so by his assistant. However, the decision came after Getafe had completed an attacking move that ended with the ball in the net.

VAR subsequently judged that no foul had occurred. On that basis, the goal should have stood.

All three incidents are expected to be considered during the “review time” sessions held each Tuesday. Their inclusion depends on whether they meet the criteria established by La Liga’s artificial intelligence system, which is used to identify plays requiring further analysis.