Expert reactions continue to pour in regarding the controversy surrounding Brahim Diaz’s goal against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night in the Champions League. While some are discussing a possible offside by Vinicius Junior in the build-up, Iturralde Gonzalez, a renowned former Spanish referee, offers his insights.
Real Madrid triumphed over Atletico 2-1 on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie. In a fiercely contested match where chances were few and far between, Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Diaz found a way to carve out space and score beautiful goals. Speaking of goals, the one from Madrid’s attacking midfielder in the 54th minute has sparked much debate. Indeed, moments after the final whistle by referee Clément Turpin, several Catalan media outlets, including Mundo Deportivo, revealed that Vinicius Junior had interfered in the lead-up to the 2-1 goal by blocking Oblak’s view, the Colchoneros’ goalkeeper.
Iturralde’s analysis
On social media, several Catalans seized the opportunity to stir the pot. Long-time rivals of Real Madrid, FC Barcelona supporters are questioning the credibility of UEFA. Without delay, the governing body of European football cleared up the issue by dismissing the controversy. According to the UEFA referee committee, Brahim Diaz’s goal stands without any dispute. In the aftermath, Spanish referee Iturralde Gonzalez spoke out to address the controversy.
Without mincing words, the former international official reminded the radicals clinging to images of Vinicius’ position during Brahim Diaz’s finish, crying foul, to come to their senses. “The problem with judging based on a single photo and playing with perspectives is this. Vinicius moves, he steps away from the goal, and the ball goes towards the other post, which Oblak can never reach,” Gonzalez initially explained.
With the images to back it up, the former referee urged the troublemakers to properly observe the entire sequence of events. “At the moment the ball leaves his foot, Oblak already sees the ball and dives to stop it, but he can’t get to it. In football, and especially in situations where player movement is crucial to understanding interference, if you use a still image, you distort the reality. It’s fine for the channels to debate it, but it’s nothing. Moreover, if you took this photo from the other side of the pitch instead of from this side, it would completely change the perspective,” he concluded.
In any case, the message is clear: there is nothing to reproach the French referees, who were in charge of the Madrid derby in the Champions League on Tuesday.
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