In a 2-0 victory for Real Madrid over Real Betis, Kylian Mbappé scored both goals, but the match was overshadowed by a controversial penalty decision involving Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian winger won a penalty following a contentious challenge with Betis goalkeeper Rui Silva, sparking widespread debate.
The incident occurred when Silva rushed out to challenge Vinicius, who seemed to initiate contact by kicking the goalkeeper’s leg. Initially, referee Alberola Rojas did not award a penalty, citing an offside in the buildup. However, after consulting with VAR official Muniz Ruiz, Rojas reversed his decision and awarded the penalty.
The decision drew sharp criticism, particularly from Dutch football legend Marco van Basten. In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, van Basten expressed his discontent, saying, "Vinicius kicked the goalkeeper in the leg, and he didn’t even react. How could VAR possibly see this as a penalty? This is a clear example that VAR officials lack match experience. If they had any, they would understand."
Earlier in the match, Real Madrid had two other penalty appeals—one for a suspected handball by Diego Llorente and another for an alleged foul on Dani Ceballos. Both were dismissed by the referee, leading to further frustration among Real Madrid players and fans.
The penalty awarded to Vinicius has reignited discussions about the consistency and fairness of VAR decisions in football.