The bizarre reason VAR ignored Mbappe’s bleeding incident in Girona draw – report

The bizarre reason VAR ignored Mbappe’s bleeding incident in Girona draw – report

Real Madrid dropped crucial points in their 1-1 draw against Girona, but the result was overshadowed by a major refereeing controversy involving Kylian Mbappe.

The moment came in the closing stages of the match when Mbappe was struck by a strong elbow inside the penalty area.

Despite immediate appeals from Real Madrid players, the referee waved play on and did not award a penalty.

VAR also chose not to intervene, allowing the decision to stand.

What makes the situation more controversial is what followed after the game.

It later emerged that Mbappe had suffered a visible wound and was bleeding after the incident, something that was not shown during the live broadcast.

Images circulating on social media after the match revealed the severity of the contact.

What’s the story?

Now, according to an update from El Chiringuito TV, the VAR officials did not see that the Real Madrid forward was bleeding during their review of a late incident inside the box.

The report explains the situation clearly, stating,

Mbappe was left bloodied after an elbow to his forehead. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

“The VAR referees in Real Madrid vs Girona did not see Mbappe bleeding when they were reviewing the play. They found out about it after the match on social media.”

A key issue highlighted in the report is the limitation of camera angles available to VAR.

Despite there being 24 cameras in the stadium, none, apart from one unclear angle, captured the bleeding clearly.

As a result, VAR officials reviewed the play without seeing the full extent of the contact.

This meant that an important visual indicator, which could have prompted a deeper review or even an on-field check, was completely missed.

By the time the reality of the situation became clear through post-match footage and social media, the decision had already been made.

Understandably, the incident has sparked frustration within the Real Madrid camp, especially given the context of the La Liga title race.

Dropping points in such circumstances only adds to the sense of injustice, particularly when a decisive moment like this goes unchecked.