MADRID – Barcelona may request a full replay of the 3-2 La Liga loss at Real Madrid on April 21, if Lamine Yamal’s 28th-minute attempt, deemed not a goal after a VAR (video assistant referee) review, is confirmed to be a goal, club president Joan Laporta said.

The club will request all footage and audio of the incident from the Spanish football federation, he said on April 22.

The match was paused for several minutes as the VAR tried to determine whether Yamal’s effort had crossed the goal line, but it could not find a clear camera angle and the decision not to award a goal stood.

“If the club understands that an error was made in the review of the incident, we will take all available measures to reverse the situation, without discounting, obviously, any necessary legal action,” Laporta said.

“If it is confirmed that it was a legal goal, we will move ahead and we do not discount requesting that the game be replayed, just as has happened in another game in Europe due to a VAR error.”

A Belgian Pro League match between Anderlecht and Genk, originally played in December, was scheduled to be replayed in full due to a VAR error.

Laporta also said he was dissatisfied with “improper use” of VAR, adding the tool was creating “confusions with contradictory criteria according to matches and teams”.

“We understand the difficulty faced by officials, but it’s for that reason that such tools (VAR) exist which should help the competition be fairer and not the other way around,” he added.

Barcelona, in second place with 70 points after 32 matches, trail leaders Real by 11 points.

The VAR incident was not the only controversial one on April 21.

Nottingham Forest have also asked for the VAR audio to be released from their three denied penalty appeals in a 2-0 loss at Everton, which prompted the club to question the integrity of English Premier League officiating.

The club said they had “warned” the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the referees’ body, beforehand that VAR official Stuart Attwell is a fan of their relegation rivals Luton Town.

“Nottingham Forest has today submitted a formal request to the PGMOL to release into the public domain the audio recordings between officials during yesterday’s match against Everton at Goodison Park,” Forest said on April 22.

“The club has requested this be shared for three key match incidents – Ashley Young’s challenge on Giovanni Reyna (24th minute), Ashley Young’s handball (44th minute) and Ashley Young’s challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi (56th minute).

“We firmly advocate for the broader football community and supporters to have access to the audio and transcript for full transparency, ensuring the integrity of our sport.” REUTERS, AFP