FC Barcelona advanced to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey with another brutal 'five-goal' victory over Real Betis (5-1) despite the semi-automatic VAR and the millimetric offsides. On Wednesday, referee José María Sánchez Martínez disallowed two goals by Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal for offside, although both players appeared to be clearly onside in the television footage provided by the live broadcast. Daniel Jesús Trujillo Suárez, in charge of the VAR room, warned the main referee to disallow two goals through the technology.
Koundé's was undoubtedly the most just (and unjust) offside of the year. In the 45+4 minute, with the score already 2-0 in favor of Barça, the full-back received a pass into space from Lamine and, without thinking twice, unleashed a shot that broke the net of goalkeeper Fran Vieites. It was the last play of the first half, and as all the players were preparing to head to the locker room, Sánchez Martínez raised his hand to disallow the goal for a millimetric offside.
The VAR image, instead of clearing doubts, ignited controversy, as the '23' player appeared to be clearly onside, but the line drawn detected that the defender had the tip of his right foot ahead. Another offside by a toenail, just as Robert Lewandowski experienced on November 10 against Real Sociedad in Anoeta. Fortunately for Barça, this time the goals did not lack against a Betis team that was completely overwhelmed from start to finish.
The VAR also disallowed a legal goal by Lamine Yamal in the second half
In the 54th minute, Barça again found themselves with a goal shout stuck in their throats, this time with Lamine Yamal as the protagonist. The '19' received a good chipped pass from Frenkie de Jong, which the young player finished first time, placing his right shot masterfully into the far post. Everything seemed legal, but Sánchez Martínez waited almost two minutes to resume play.
No one understood what was happening, especially when the Murcian referee signaled offside against the Barça winger, disallowing the goal. The VAR went back about 20 seconds, to the start of the action, to sanction an offside by the player from Mataró that was also not very clear, as while it seemed that the right foot of the Barça youth player was slightly ahead, the torso of Romain Perraud appeared to keep him onside. In the end, Lamine had his revenge, scoring the fifth goal for Hansi Flick's team just before leaving the field for Pablo Torre.