CTA backs referee decision to award Real Betis goal vs Real Madrid amid complaints of foul in buildup

CTA backs referee decision to award Real Betis goal vs Real Madrid amid complaints of foul in buildup

Real Madrid’s any lingering hopes of mounting a late challenge for the La Liga title were dashed last Friday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis.

Having taken a lead through Vinicius Jr. in the first half, Alvaro Arbeloa’s side conceded a stoppage-time equaliser, scored by Hector Bellerin.

However, Real Madrid had complaints about the equalising goal. After the game, Arbeloa argued that there had been a foul by Antony on Ferland Mendy in the build-up, with the defender ending up on the ground before the goal.

CTA dismisses Real Madrid’s complaints

But the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has backed the decision made by the referee with regard to the complaint made by Real Madrid in their match against Real Betis.

The CTA reviewed the play in its programme “Tiempo de Revisión” and concluded that the decision made during the match was correct.

According to the analysis, for a foul involving holding to be punishable, there must be a clear grip with a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the attacker’s action and the defender’s fall.