La Liga legend makes great points in Real Madrid’s defense over handball
Real Madrid‘s 2-2 draw with Sevilla on Sunday night was heartbreaking, even as the last-gasp equalizing goal from Eden Hazard (and Toni Kroos) and near last-gasp winner from Casemiro were inspirational.
The result was heartbreaking because it seemed like Real had the game won after Karim Benzema was taken down by Sevilla goalkeeper Bono in the penalty box. Yet Sevilla were the ones who received the penalty, because Eder Militao was judged to have handled the ball moments before.
Zinedine Zidane was upset in the post-game press conference. While he made it clear that he respects the referees, he was personally confused as to why Militao was penalized for a handball when his back was turned. Therefore, he could not have intentionally made himself bigger. In other cases, such as against Atletico Madrid or even earlier in that very same match vs. Sevilla, La Liga referees have not awarded penalties for handball.
Real Madrid fans who are upset about this have been called complainers, but they are not the only ones who see an issue here.
La Liga needs more consistency in what they judge to be a handball
One of La Liga’s most experienced and respected players, Joaquin of Real Betis, told COPE that he does not think Eder Militao should have been called for a handball in that fateful, potentially title-changing moment in Real Madrid vs. Sevilla.
Joaquin made a couple of great points to back up his opinion. Firstly, he stated his belief that if a player involuntary hits the ball with his hand (again, Militao’s back was turned) and the ball is not proceeding goalwards, there should not be a handball.
He then made another great point, which is, truly, the crux of the issue and should be a talking point among more players and managers in La Liga outside of Madrid. Joaquin stated that the consistency is lacking. La Liga cannot have officials assert this is a handball in one game but not in another. There needs to reliability and predictability, not judgments at the referee’s discretion that leaves players confused and alters the outcomes of vital matches.
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The Real Betis man has played in La Liga since 2000 for Los Verdiblancos, Valencia, and Malaga, with only a 2013-2015 stint with Fiorentina in Serie A separating him from Spain’s top flight. So clearly, this man knows what he is talking about, even if he does play for Sevilla’s most bitter rivals. Let’s see if the league addresses this hot-button handball issue in the summer.