Real Madrid coach José Mourinho voiced sharp criticism of the video assistant referee system following a controversial incident in El Clásico, where Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo avoided disciplinary action for a challenge on Yan Diomande, SPORT1 reported.

The 57th-Minute Incident Involving Joao Cancelo and Yan Diomande

The flashpoint occurred during the 57th minute of the match between Barcelona and Real Madrid, which finished in a 2-1 victory for Barcelona. As Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande drove forward with the ball in an attempt to push the score to 2-0, Joao Cancelo lunged and caught his opponent on the right Wade. Television replays indicated that the Portuguese fullback made contact with his studs during the attempted tackle. Referee Juan Martínez Munuera allowed play to continue without issuing a card. Diomande initially continued dribbling before dropping to the turf with visible pain, later limping across the pitch until being substituted for Carlos Espi in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

José Mourinho Criticizes Refereeing Decisions After the Match

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Mourinho did not hold back his assessment of the officiating team. “The referee was super, but the VAR slept in the 57th minute,” Mourinho stated. “The foul by Cancelo on Diomande was clearly a red card.” Aurélien Tchouaméni, who observed the challenge from close range, immediately raised his arms in protest. Despite the appeals, the VAR booth did not recommend an on-field monitor review.

Barcelona Wins Despite Disputed Officiating

The high-stakes fixture ultimately swung in Barcelona’s favor despite the disputed non-call, leaving Real Madrid to rue missed opportunities and officiating oversights. Diomande managed to complete the vast majority of the second half despite the impact to his right leg before giving way to Espi deep into stoppage time.