Real Madrid: penalty on Mbappé at Santander should not have been awarded after 'manifest and flagrant error'

Spanish refereeing committee rules the penalty awarded to Mbappé in the 11th minute was a clear error that VAR should have overturned.

The Spanish Technical Refereeing Committee (CTA) has analysed the penalty awarded to Real Madrid in their 3-0 victory over Santander and concluded it should never have been given. In the 11th minute, referee whistled a foul by Santander midfielder Matteo Prati for his challenge on Kylian Mbappé in the box, awarding a penalty that Mbappé converted.

The CTA's official verdict was unambiguous: "Prati extends his arm in front of the attacker without exerting any force. Clear absence of causal link. It is not a penalty. Manifest and flagrant error by the referee. VAR should have intervened." The committee found no contact or force in the challenge, making it a clear and obvious error that should have been corrected by video review.

Despite the controversial start, Real Madrid dominated the match, with Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomandé adding goals before half-time. The victory extended their winning streak to four consecutive league games and kept them in contention for the title, sitting third, one point behind Atlético Madrid and three behind leaders Barcelona.