The VAR warned, but Munuera Montero refused: Why wasn't Azpilicueta sent off for his harsh tackle on Raphinha?

The match between Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona (0-1) left a particularly striking scene regarding the controversial refereeing decisions made by the Andalusian referee José Luis Munuera Montero. A rather questionable play involved Raphinha and César Azpilicueta.

This action, which occurred in the sixth minute of the clash between the mattress makers and the culés, shows how the Spanish defender, in an attempt to disrupt Raphinha and halt his advance, commits a clear foul. 'Azpi' completely disregards the ball and strikes with his right boot, at a dangerous height (the calf area), the left leg of 'Rapha'. Although the foul was called, according to Munuera Montero's criteria, it only warranted a yellow card, when it could have easily been red due to the dangerousness of the play. However, despite the VAR review, the referee did not change his decision.

🖥️💥 Munuera Montero ignored the VAR in the Atlético de Madrid - Barcelona match.

👉🏻 Azpilicueta digs his studs into Raphinha's calf from behind and without reaching the ball.

❌ IT'S A DIRECT RED.

▪️ Although Martínez Munuera tried to help him, the Andalusian maintained his initial decision. pic.twitter.com/ZuT1KScFrT

— Archivo VAR (@ArchivoVAR) April 2, 2025

In light of this, uncertainty arose as to why, despite reviewing the images, the sanction was not changed. This matter was not fully settled, even after the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) released the audio of the conversation between the main referee and his assistant in the VAR, Juan Martínez Munuera.

Why wasn't Azpilicueta sent off after committing a highly dangerous foul against Raphinha?

In the audio, you can hear how Martínez Munuera, the VAR referee, warns Munuera Montero: "There are studs completely on the calf, leg extended and he arrives very late", which is why he believes the play should be reviewed. However, after analyzing the action, Munuera Montero argues that he will not change his decision because "the impact is not direct, but lateral", which is why he maintains the yellow card.

THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN MARTÍNEZ MUNUERA AND MUNUERA MONTERO, IN DETAIL: 

Martínez Munuera (VAR):

- José, listen, come see it, trust me. There are studs completely on the calf, leg extended, arrives very late, man, come see it.

Munuera Montero:

- Let me see it.

- I want to see that the impact is direct, please. Direct.

- Okay, for me, it’s not direct. He hits him laterally.

- Give me another camera, I want to see it better.  Give me another one you have.

- Look, he doesn’t hit him directly, it’s lateral.

- Now give it to me, please, at normal speed.

- He hits him for me, not maintaining contact.

- I stick with the yellow, Juan. I stick with it.

🗣 VAR REVIEW AUDIO

🗓 Semifinals (return leg) | Copa del Rey

⚽ @Atleti 🆚 @FCBarcelona | 8' #ArbitrajeRFEF | @CTARFEF pic.twitter.com/VZjj4zHqtx

— RFEF (@rfef) April 2, 2025

The play warranted a red card

While the IFAB (International Football Association Board) regulations, in the section corresponding to the VAR protocol, establish that the final decision is always made by the main referee, in this case Munuera Montero, it is still relevant that the review was correctly requested by Martínez Munuera. The action fits within the situations where the VAR can intervene to review a possible direct red card, as it is a play that could be classified as "serious foul play". That it was only sanctioned with a yellow card is a topic that deserves debate, although perhaps it has not generated greater repercussions because, in the end, FC Barcelona won the match with notable ease.