Alvaro Arbeloa has voiced strong frustration following Real Madrid’s 1–1 draw with Girona in La Liga, after a controversial late incident involving Kylian Mbappe.
Softfootball understands that in the 87th minute, Mbappé was elbowed in the face inside the penalty area, leaving him visibly bloodied. Despite the severity of the challenge, no penalty was awarded and VAR did not intervene, sparking outrage from the Madrid camp.
As reported by Fabrizio Romano on his official X account, Arbeloa described the decision as a “clear penalty here and on the moon,” criticizing what he sees as inconsistent use of VAR.
Álvaro Arbeloa: The foul on Mbappé is A CLEAR PENALTY. Here and on the MOON. But this is where we are. This is what it is. Another week of this. Same stuff as always. Why VAR did not enter?
In other post-match comments shared by Romano, Arbeloa further added that “VAR enters when they want, and when they don’t want to, they look the other way,” highlighting growing frustration over officiating standards in key matches.
Álvaro Arbeloa on Mbappé penalty: VAR enters when they want, and when they don’t want to, they look the other way.
This controversy adds to a broader pattern of complaints involving VAR decisions.
Recently, Barcelona officially filed a complaint to UEFA over refereeing decisions in their UEFA Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, where Pau Cubarsi was sent off after a VAR-reviewed incident involving Giuliano Simeone.
The incident has fueled wider debates across Spanish football, with fans and analysts questioning the consistency of refereeing decisions in high-stakes games. On social media, reactions were mixed, as rival supporters pointed to perceived hypocrisy, arguing that Madrid have historically benefited from favorable calls.
With tensions rising, debates over VAR consistency continue to dominate headlines in both domestic and European competitions.
