Real Madrid: Referee controversy and nine cards overshadow fantastic El Clásico
By Ben Sundock
Despite there being nothing to play for in La Liga in this edition of El Clásico, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona showed why this is one of the best rivalries in the world. However, poor officiating is the story following the 2-2 draw. Here’s why.
Spanish referee Hernandez Hernandez was a bigger star in the Camp Nou Sunday night than either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. The camera was on him at every stoppage and every whistle.
The reason for this unwanted attention is due to the number of fouls and cards given out. There were 28 total fouls called, eight yellow cards, and one red card shown in a little over 90 minutes of play.
In the first half alone, there were five yellows shown, four of which came in the final 15 minutes of the half. Hernandez struggled to control the players at the end of the half as the players began jawing with each other and committing harsh fouls.
Gareth Bale raked the back of Samuel Umtiti’s leg, Lionel Messi slid into Sergio Ramos recklessly, and Ramos saw a yellow card for a pushing match with Luis Suarez.
At the end of the first 45, Barcelona right-back Sergi Roberto received a straight red card for slapping Marcelo across the face. The emotion’s of the Barcelona players boiled over as the half ended as Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Gerard Pique screamed at the head official as he left the field.
While there were so many fouls and cards given over the course of the match, there were a handful of missed calls that changed the match drastically.
One of the biggest gaffes on the referee’s part led to the second goal for the home side. Luis Suarez shoved Rafa Varane and stole the ball from the defender, putting him in alone on goal. It was so obvious in fact, the Barca striker said in a post-match interview he was surprised he was not whistled for the challenge.
The striker is well known for his flopping and this would have been a great time for Varane to pull a Suarez and embellish the challenge a little bit.
The second, and likely biggest missed call of the contest, came when Marcelo was clearly tripped by defender Jordi Alba in the box with just over 10 minutes remaining. Despite the match being tied and in Barcelona, the referee or one of his assistant’s had to have seen Alba clear hit the Brazilian across his shin mid-dribble.
The protesting from Marco Asensio and Gareth Bale had no effect on the ref and the play went on.
While fans from both sides are unhappy with Mr. Henandez, I think a draw in this match was a good outcome given how frequently the official blew the whistle. Had Barca won, Real Madrid would be up in arms complaining about the two missed calls.
Next: Three takeaways from Real Madrid’s 2-2 draw against FC Barcelona
Had Real won, Barca fans would be up in arms claiming that Bale should’ve been sent off in the first half and Sergi Roberto did not deserve a straight red card for lashing out at Marcelo.
The only loser from this match is head referee, Hernandez Hernandez, who did not have his best day at the office. Let alone a mediocre one.