The Spanish Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has ruled that Joao Cancelo should have received a yellow card for stamping on Yan Diomande during El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid .
In its weekly Tiempo de Revision programme, the committee classified the challenge as reckless but concluded that it did not involve the excessive force or brutality required to justify a red card that Real Madrid were appealing for during the game.
The incident involved Cancelo making contact with Diomande's calf in a challenge that prompted an appeal for a red card from Real Madrid. After all, the Portuguese defender did leave his studs on the Real Madrid summer signing.
The referee, Martinez Munuera, did not issue the booking that the CTA believes was warranted, while the VAR also did not intervene.
That led to some criticism from Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho after the game, which the Merengues won the game 2-1.
"The referee was great but the VAR was sleeping on minute 60. There was a clear red card for Cancelo's foul on Diomande,"the Portuguese tactician said (h/t Fabrizio Romano ).
Reviewing the footage, the committee explained: "Cancelo makes partial contact with Diomande's leg; there is no excessive force or brutality."
The CTA nevertheless considered the challenge a "reckless action", meaning the Barcelona defender should have been cautioned.
While the committee believes Cancelo's challenge crossed the threshold for a yellow card, it does not consider the contact serious enough to warrant a dismissal.
Meanwhile, the referees' committee also examined a potential handball by Alejandro Balde inside Barcelona's penalty area but supported Martinez Munuera's decision not to award a penalty.
Audio from the review captures the referee explaining his reasoning: "It's in a natural position, hand down in a natural position."
The CTA agreed with that interpretation, stating: "The ball makes contact with the defender's arm accidentally."
According to the committee, Balde's arm position did not constitute a punishable handball offence. The referee was therefore correct to allow play to continue.
The two assessments provide different verdicts on Barcelona's defensive actions during El Clasico : Balde was correctly spared a penalty, but Cancelo should have been shown a yellow card for his challenge on Diomande.
Real Madrid won the Clasico at the Spotify Camp Nou 2-1, courtesy of a brace from Kylian Mbappe. The victory took them to within three points of Barcelona in the La Liga standings.
Source: MARCA
