Revealed: What the VAR official told the referee to overturn penalty against Real Madrid

Real Madrid maintained their perfect start to the season with a comfortable 4-0 win over Malaga at the Bernabeu.

The result kept Jose Mourinho’s side top of the pile with three wins from three, though the game was not without a moment of controversy late on.

That came in the form of a VAR intervention, which saw a penalty initially awarded against Real Madrid subsequently overturned.

What the VAR official said

The incident occurred in the 84th minute, when referee Juan Martinez Munuera pointed to the spot for a handball by Yan Diomande following a clearance from Antonio Rudiger.

However, Martinez Munuera was quickly advised to review the decision by VAR official Daniel Trujillo Suarez.

Revealed: What the VAR official told

“Juan, I recommend a review for you to analyse a potential cancellation of the penalty,” came the message from the VAR room, as captured by Movistar+.

Once at the monitor, the officials talked through the passage of play. It was explained that Rudiger had been the first to head the ball, with the referee then confirming his change of mind.

“Okay, it is Rudiger, it is Rudiger who heads towards Diomande. Okay, perfect. Cancel penalty, I cancel penalty,” Martinez Munuera said.

A correct call per the new guidelines

Jose Mourinho’s men are enjoying a solid start to the new season. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

The decision to overturn the penalty aligns neatly with this season’s updated CTA guidelines on handball.

The new manual makes clear that it is not a penalty when the ball touches the arm of a defender after having bounced off another part of the body, another player or the ground, arriving unexpectedly following a change of trajectory.

In this instance, with the ball having come off Rudiger’s header before striking Diomande, the contact was deemed accidental and unpunishable under the revised interpretation.

It ensured Real Madrid’s clean sheet remained intact, capping a routine afternoon for Mourinho’s men.

With their flawless start now extended to three straight victories, Real Madrid have laid down an early marker in the title race, and will look to carry that momentum into their trip to face Real Betis.