Girona claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory over FC Barcelona at Estadi Montilivi on Monday night, but the result has been overshadowed by a major refereeing controversy that continues to ripple through La Liga.
On the pitch, Girona delivered an energetic and composed performance, ultimately sealed by Fran Beltran’s match-winning strike.
However, the decisive moment arrived amid chaos, with questions quickly raised about what unfolded in the build-up to the goal.
In the same attacking phase, young Argentine midfielder Claudio Echeverri – currently on loan from Manchester City – appeared to stamp on Barcelona defender Jules Kounde, leaving the centre-back grounded as play continued.
Despite the incident, referee Cesar Soto Grado allowed play to go on, and VAR chose not to intervene.
From multiple replays, the contact looked clear to many observers, with growing consensus that the goal should not have stood – although debate still lingers in some quarters.
Momentum shifted further after the final whistle when Echeverri himself addressed the moment while speaking to El Chiringuito’s cameras. Initially uncertain, the teenager’s view changed once he saw the replay.
“Yes, I stepped on him. The thing is, I was coming at speed, and it was unintentional. If the referee had called a foul, I would have understood,” said the City loanee.
That admission only fuelled the fallout. Spain’s Referees Technical Committee (CTA) has since acknowledged that VAR should have stepped in after the missed foul, particularly given the direct link between the incident and Girona’s winning goal.
As the dust settles, the decision carries real weight beyond Montilivi. Barcelona’s defeat leaves them two points adrift of Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga table, turning a single refereeing call into a potentially pivotal moment in the title race.
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