Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo should have been booked for his challenge on Real Madrid winger Yan Diomande during Sunday’s El Clasico, according to Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees (CTA).

The refereeing body has reviewed the controversial incident and concluded that although the Portuguese defender did not deserve a red card, his challenge warranted a yellow card.

According to a report by Madrid Universal on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the CTA examined the incident during its weekly Tiempo de Revision programme after Real Madrid questioned the decision not to send Cancelo off during the encounter at the Spotify Camp Nou.

Referee Martinez Munuera allowed play to continue without showing Cancelo a card, while the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) also decided against recommending an on-field review.

The decision attracted criticism from Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, who believed the Barcelona defender should have been dismissed for his challenge on Diomande.

Speaking after his team’s 2-1 victory, Mourinho expressed his frustration with the VAR officials, suggesting they failed to recognise the seriousness of the incident.

“The referee was great but the VAR was sleeping on minute 60. There was a clear red card for Cancelo’s foul on Diomande,” Mourinho said.

However, the CTA rejected Madrid’s argument that the incident deserved a straight red card, explaining that Cancelo’s challenge did not involve the level of force required for such a punishment.

“Cancelo makes partial contact with Diomande’s leg; there is no excessive force or brutality,” the committee explained.

Nevertheless, the refereeing committee acknowledged that the defender should have received a yellow card because of the nature of the challenge.

The CTA also examined another controversial moment involving Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde, whose arm was struck by the ball inside the penalty area.

Real Madrid had hoped the incident would result in a penalty, but the committee supported the referee’s decision to allow play to continue.

According to its assessment, the ball made accidental contact with Balde’s arm while it was in a natural position, meaning there was no punishable handball offence.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid emerged victorious from the fiercely contested encounter, securing a 2-1 win over their bitter rivals through a Kylian Mbappe brace.

The result reduced Barcelona’s advantage at the top of the La Liga standings to three points, adding further intensity to the ongoing title race.