Barcelona’s frustration reached new heights during their La Liga defeat to Las Palmas on Saturday, as their appeals for a penalty in the second half were dismissed by referee Adrián Cordero Vega. The controversial moment came when Pau Cubarsí tangled with Mika Marmol in the box, leaving Barça players and fans convinced that a spot-kick should have been awarded.
Television footage captured Cordero Vega’s explanation on the pitch, shedding light on his decision. Speaking to Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez, the referee insisted there was no foul play. “Nothing, nothing… But he’s looking at the ball!” Vega said. “He doesn’t see you, he doesn’t see you, he doesn’t see you…” This rationale suggested that Marmol’s focus on the ball absolved him of intent, a key factor in Vega’s judgment.
Replays showed Cubarsí was ahead of Marmol during the incident, which fueled Barcelona’s claims. However, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, the evidence presented in the replay was insufficient for VAR to overrule the on-field decision. This left Barça feeling aggrieved, especially as the game slipped further out of their control.
Fermín López, speaking after the match, expressed his disappointment with the outcome but refused to let the incident become an excuse for the team’s performance. “I didn’t see it, but I think they stepped on him. I don’t know the reasons why the penalty wasn’t called,” López said. He added, “But in the end, we didn’t play well, there are no excuses, we have to be self-critical and move on.”
This moment highlighted broader issues for Barcelona, as they struggled to find their rhythm throughout the match. While the penalty debate dominated post-match discussions, López’s comments underscored the team’s need to focus on improving their general play rather than dwelling solely on officiating decisions.
Ultimately, the defeat serves as a wake-up call for the Catalan giants. Despite their grievances with refereeing, the loss points to deeper challenges the team must address to regain form in the title race.
