Real Madrid penalty decision reversed after VAR review against Racing Santander

Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Racing Santander on matchday 11 of La Liga was overshadowed by a late refereeing controversy after Jose Luis Munuera Montero overturned a penalty awarded to the home side following a VAR review.

The incident came in the 71st minute at El Sardinero, when the ball struck Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni’s hand inside the penalty area. Munuera Montero initially pointed to the spot after his assistant indicated that a handball had occurred, but he was then advised to review the incident at the pitchside monitor by the VAR team, led by Luis Mario Milla.

“Jose Luis, I advise you to review the penalty you have awarded, please,” Milla told the referee.

As he made his way to the screen, Munuera Montero reassured Racing Santander manager Jose Alberto that he would assess the incident himself. The referee then asked the VAR team to clarify how the ball had been played.

“I want to see how the ball was played,” he said.

Milla told him that Tchouameni had deliberately played the ball before it hit his hand. Munuera Montero requested a clearer view, asking for the lighting to be adjusted and for the replay to be extended so he could examine the sequence more closely.

During the review, the referee also asked whether a Racing Santander player had touched the ball. The answer was no.

After watching the footage again, Munuera Montero concluded that Tchouameni had played the ball himself and that it had rebounded towards his hand without any intervention from an opponent. He therefore decided the contact did not warrant a penalty and cancelled his initial decision.

The reversal angered the Racing Santander supporters, with their protests escalating to the point that a lighter was thrown on to the pitch.

The decision reflected the refereeing principle that a defender is not automatically penalised when the ball strikes their hand after they have deliberately played it, provided the subsequent contact is accidental. Officials must also consider the position of the hand, the player’s movement and the wider circumstances of the incident.

The late dispute was not the only decision to draw criticism at El Sardinero. In the 11th minute, Munuera Montero awarded Real Madrid a penalty after Kylian Mbappe came into contact with Racing Santander player Matteo Prati. Mbappe converted the spot-kick to put the visitors ahead, prompting strong objections from the home crowd.

The listed schedule also includes AEK Athens in the Champions League on 04 November 2026, while Real Madrid are listed to face Malaga in La Liga on 07 November 2026, with Racing Santander also shown in the same schedule information.