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7 months ago
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Barcelona will take legal action against the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after the controversial decision around Lamine Yamal's unawarded goal in Sunday's El Clasico clash.
Real Madrid came out on top in the match at the Bernabeu after Jude Bellingham's injury time winner sent Los Blancos 11 points clear at the top of the Spanish top-flight to all but confirm the league title.
Andreas Christensen and Vinicius Junior scored inside the first half, before Fermin Lopez made it 2-1 to Barca, only for Real to hit back through Lucas Vazquez and Bellingham.
However the biggest talking point from the match proved to be Yamal's effort which appeared from a number of angles to cross the line of Andriy Lunin's goal, but went ungiven by the referee and VAR.
Barcelona were left incensed by the decision, with manager Xavi in particular furious, and reports are now suggesting that the Catalan side are seeking legal action against the RFEF.
Joan Laporta has reportedly warned that the Catalan giants could pursue legal action
Lamine Yamal's strike looked to have crossed the line but the goal was not given as Andriy Lunin bundled it clear
However, a new angle of the incident emerged where Yamal's (bottom left) effort looked to have crossed the line, with Real keeper Lunin shoveling the ball away from behind the line
According to outlet RAC1, via Sport, Barcelona are set to pursue the federation in court in order to try and force the RFEF to release the audio and footage from the VAR room during the check around Yamal's shot.
Barca had lobbied for footage of the check to be released in a statement on Monday, with the federation putting out a clip with some audio, although it only included one feed, rather than the several feeds that are available in the room.
After Yamal's effort, an assistant referee could be heard saying 'bloody hell' twice before suggesting that a corner kick be given despite the confusion. The referee was then informed by his VAR official that the check would take place.
Barcelona's players gathered around Grado and urged for the goal to be given, though the referee told Ilkay Gundogan that no goal-line technology was in place.
'Lunin's body is covering us,' one official said. 'Wait a second, we are still looking for the evidence. This one doesn't work for me (first angle), neither does this one (second angle), neither does this one (third angle), keep going…
'Neither does this one (fourth angle), neither does this one (fifth angle), neither does this one (sixth angle).'
Grado told the VAR room to carefully check each angle and avoid rushing a decision.
He was then informed that VAR had scrutinised every possible angle.
Jude Bellingham crashed into the roof of the net in stoppage time to seal a dramatic victory
The referee explained to Barcelona's incensed players that there was no goal-line technology
'Cesar, Cesar, we are going to restart with a corner kick,' a VAR official eventually confirmed. 'We don't have any evidence that the ball has gone in, so corner kick. We have no evidence that the ball has gone in, therefore corner kick.'
One of the VAR officials said: 'Stop at the point of contact when it hits Lunin's gloves and turn it back.' Another then added that they would perform a '360' check to look for concrete evidence that the whole of the ball had indeed crossed over the line.
The RFEF were adamant in their rejection according to reports, suggesting that there would be no such exception made for the Blaugrana.
Barca president Joan Laporta also suggested the club could ask for a replay and recorded a video statement, and has cited as precedent a match in the Belgian league between Anderlecht and Genk.
After a VAR decision was found to have been correct through the Disciplinary Council of the Belgian League, a replay was ordered.
'We ask the RFEF to provide us with all the images & audios of the play [Barça's cancelled goal],' the club president said after the game. 'If it was a legal goal, we do not rule out asking to replay the match.'
Barcelona coach Xavi raged at more perceived refereeing injustice after he saw his team’s slim hopes of winning the Spanish title disappear.
‘I’m not going to say anything about the referee because I will be banned if I do but it was there for all to see,’ he said. ‘We were the better team tonight and we deserved to win.’
Xavi labelled the refereeing decisions against his team as a 'disgrace' and claimed Barcelona will 'not remain silent'
The furious Blaugrana boss added: ‘The referee did not get a single decision right.
'It’s a disgrace and we should not remain silent. I hoped the referee would either go unnoticed or get his decisions right but it was neither of those two things.’
Even Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen had his say despite being down the other end of the pitch when the incident first happened.
He said: ‘It's a disgrace that they can't find an angle to check the goal. I have no words to describe that.’
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