Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Espanyol was overshadowed by a controversial VAR decision that disallowed a Ferran Torres goal, sparking fresh debate over officiating standards in La Liga.
Barcelona faced further refereeing drama during Saturday’s Catalan Derby after Ferran Torres was denied a hattrick by a disputed VAR intervention.
While leading 2-0, Torres netted a third, but officials ruled Eric Garcia offside in the buildup. The released tactical image caused widespread confusion among supporters, especially following the club’s midweek frustrations.
Despite the setback, Lamine Yamal’s late strike secured a 3-1 win.
The decision arrives amidst heightened tensions, with Real Madrid TV recently escalating the war of words by claiming, “This is the Negreira League.”
Hansi Flick’s side remained resilient despite a nervy second half following Espanyol’s consolation goal.
While the victory keeps Barcelona atop the table, the bizarre offside call remains a major talking point as the club continues to navigate high-stakes officiating scrutiny.