The controversy surrounding Real Madrid's late equaliser against Elche centred on both of the 'Los Blancos' goals. The first, for a potential handball by Bellingham when controlling the ball before Huijsen's strike. The second, for a heavily contested foul by Vinicius on Inaki Pena, who suffered a nose injury when the forward's foot made contact before Jude swept home the 2-2.

Eduardo Prieto Iglesias, head of VAR, and Mario Melero López, who oversaw video officiating for the match, addressed the latter incident in a report by 'El Chiringuito'. Both officials agreed that the action was accidental and a natural consequence of play, therefore not punishable with a foul. The VOR room did not call on Francisco Javier Hernández Maeso to correct or review the decision at any point.

From Las Rozas, the head of video refereeing within the CTA explained the action: "The Real Madrid player contested the ball with the goalkeeper without any additional gesture beyond the challenge itself. In other words, if the forward had made an additional gesture, deliberately striking the goalkeeper, we would be discussing a different scenario."

"However, it was an accidental and fortuitous collision in that challenge. There was no clear and obvious error in the play. The premise to which we have returned regarding VAR is precisely that: obvious, clear, and manifest errors," Prieto Iglesias added, justifying why VAR did not request Hernández Maeso to consult the screen.

Speaking to this outlet after the match, Melero López, who served as head of VAR alongside Juan Luis Pulido Santana, said: "It was a complex situation with many elements. We also analysed whether the ball had completely crossed the line, which it hadn't, and then, yes, the contact occurred, but we deemed it an accidental action, a typical incident in the game without any reckless or imprudent challenge. It's a collision inherent in football, which then led to the goal."

Iñaki Peña

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