The audio of the conversations held in the VAR booth during Sunday’s showdown between Real Madrid and Barcelona have this evening come to light online.
And they are no doubt set to be closely examined by all associated with the latter.
This comes with the exact exchanges which ultimately culminated in Lamine Yamal’s ‘phantom goal’ not being awarded having been confirmed.
Barcelona, of course, were left livid at the Santiago Bernabéu last night, after seeing what they felt was a completely legitimate goal not awarded.
As much came upon youngster Lamine’s flick-on at the front post being shovelled out from the Real Madrid goal by Andriy Lunin.
With no goal-line technology to provide a definitive answer regarding whether of not the entirety of the ball had crossed the goal-line, the decision was in turn sent to the VAR team in charge in Spain’s capital.
And, following a lengthy check, it was ultimately concluded that sufficient evidence to prove as much could not be found.
With Barcelona head coach Xavi having been nothing short of adamant post-match that his side were essentially robbed, requests for the VAR room audio to be made public had since spread like wildfire.
And, on Monday evening, precisely as much has indeed come to the fore.
As per an official release on the part of the RFEF, the conversation surrounding Lamine’s ‘goal’ is showcased below:
Linesman: “For me, it doesn’t go in at all. It is a corner.”
VAR: “Let’s check [the attempt], César (Soto, referee). Wait a little, don’t let them restart.
“Lunin’s body covers it. This one doesn’t work for me, this one doesn’t work either, this one doesn’t work either, this one doesn’t work either…”
Soto: “We are in no hurry, it is a very important decision. The best thing is to wait.”
VAR: “César, César, we don’t have any evidence that the ball went in, so we will restart the game with a corner kick.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
