Barcelona’s emphatic victory over Actual Betis was overshadowed by a extremely controversial VAR resolution that led to the house facet’s fifth purpose.
The highlight fell firmly on a handball name in opposition to former Barça defender Marc Bartra.
The incident unfolded within the 54th minute when a robust shot from Marcus Rashford struck Bartra’s arm inside the realm, prompting fast protests from the Betis gamers.
What was mentioned?
Referee Hernandez Maeso was swiftly alerted by the VAR staff, led by Galician official Javier Iglesias Villanueva.
The instruction from the VOR room was – “Fran, I like to recommend you evaluation this to evaluate a possible penalty for handball.”
What adopted was an intense evaluation course of that has since fuelled widespread debate.
Because the referee walked in direction of the pitch-side monitor, he was heard addressing somebody from the Betis camp, stating twice – “If it doesn’t hit your hand, it’s clear.”
The VAR officers then guided him by way of the incident with precision. “Within the picture, you will note the shot on purpose,” Iglesias defined, to which Hernandez Maeso replied, “I’m in entrance of the display.”
🗣 AUDIO REVIEW VAR
🗓 Matchday 15 | First Division
⚽ @RealBetis 🆚 @FCBarcelona | 56’#ArbitrationRFEF | @CTARFEF pic.twitter.com/1MV58Eo6c6
— RFEF (@rfef) December 6, 2025
The VAR official continued, “Since Bartra has his arm up always and after hitting him on the leg, he hits him on the arm, he’s taking over area. Okay, I’ll go away it to you.”
The referee requested additional angles, saying, “Okay, good. Give me a picture from the opposite facet, please. Okay, from the opposite purpose.”
After reviewing the footage from a number of angles, Hernandez Maeso reached his closing verdict.
“Hearken to me, it’s a shot. It’s punishable as a result of Bartra is throwing himself together with his arm up from the beginning, so he’s taking over area from the very starting.
“Due to this fact, even when there’s a rebound off the leg, it’s nonetheless punishable and it’s a penalty, OK? Penalty with out a card.”
Based on the interpretation later clarified, the decisive issue was the place of Bartra’s arm on the precise second of Rashford’s strike.
The Betis defender already had his arm prolonged in what was deemed an unnatural place.
Despite the fact that the ball made contact together with his leg earlier than placing the arm, that preliminary arm placement eliminated any argument of unintentionality.



























Arsenal












































