Real Madrid manager José Mourinho launched a blistering attack on the VAR official team handling their clash against Real Betis, demanding an explanation as to why Kylian Mbappé’s late missed penalty was not retaken.
The Portuguese coach reopened the dispute during his pre-match press conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League fixture against Inter Milan, despite emphasizing that the refereeing decision was not the sole reason for his side’s 1–0 defeat.
Mourinho Demands a Clear Explanation
“We lost to Betis because we failed to convert the attacking chances we created, end of story,” Mourinho stated. “But regarding the penalty, why was it not retaken?”
He added: “Did that happen because VAR does not know the law, or because they did not want to intervene? That is a question I want officials to answer.”
He continued: “If VAR did not order a retake because they don’t know the rule, then those responsible should go home. But if they know the rule and chose not to apply it, it becomes even worse.”
He further questioned: “There is an even more serious issue: if they didn’t know the rule, why didn’t they call the referee over to review the pitchside monitor? It’s a bit bizarre.”
“I prefer to assume good intentions and believe the referee couldn’t tell if the player was inside the box, but in that scenario, VAR is supposed to step in,” he remarked.
“In a few weeks or months, if a similar situation occurs, the penalty will be retaken. I simply want to know why it was not retaken in this specific match.”
Mourinho stressed: “We did not lose purely because of this incident—we could have missed the retake as well—but as manager of Real Madrid, I demand a responsible answer.”
What Happened During Mbappé’s Penalty?
Real Betis broke the deadlock in the 80th minute through Troy Parrott, before Real Madrid were awarded a penalty in stoppage time following a challenge by Natan on Vinícius Júnior.
Goalkeeper Álvaro Valles saved Mbappé’s spot-kick, and Marc Bartra cleared the rebound just before the French star could reach it, sparking a lengthy review regarding potential encroachment into the penalty area prior to the kick.
The VAR review established that Bartra’s plant foot remained outside the 18-yard box at the exact moment Mbappé struck the ball, while his other leg was airborne; consequently, the officiating crew determined that no infraction requiring a retake had occurred.
Officiating guidelines state that encroachment is called if one or both of a player’s feet are touching or over the penalty area line on the turf at the moment of execution, excluding the overhang of other body parts above the box—a rule supporting the decision against a retake.
Vinícius Booking Ignites Further Anger
Mourinho’s frustration was not limited to the penalty decision; he also demanded clarity over the yellow card shown to Vinícius Júnior as he approached the referee in his capacity as team captain.
“There is another matter I want to understand: why Real Madrid’s captain received a yellow card,” he said. “Vinícius walked toward the referee and saw the card shown before he even reached him.”
He concluded: “We are constantly told that the team captain has the right to approach the referee respectfully to ask for a clarification, so I want to know why he was booked.”
The defeat brought Real Madrid’s perfect start to the league campaign to an end, following three consecutive victories under Mourinho, as his side ran into an inspired performance from Valles alongside the post and crossbar on a night of missed opportunities.
