Intense controversy over Real Madrid's dropped points against Girona

A collision that caused Mbappe to bleed but did not result in a penalty ignited fierce debate, prompting Real Madrid's strong reaction after the draw with Girona.

The disappointing 1-1 draw against Girona in La Liga's 31st round not only left Real Madrid struggling in the title race but also generated negative public opinion regarding officiating standards. The focal point of outrage centered on a situation in the final minutes of the match, when Kylian Mbappe collapsed in the opponent's penalty area with a bleeding forehead wound after a forceful collision with Vitor Reis.

Slow-motion replays showed the elbow of Girona's defender directly impacting the French forward's face. Despite Mbappe lying on the pitch in pain with a blood-covered face, referee Alberola Rojas ignored all appeals and allowed the match to continue.

More astonishingly, VAR—the tool created to correct clear errors—also maintained an inexplicable silence in this situation, depriving the "White Falcons" of a chance to decide the match.

Speaking after the match, coach Alvaro Arbeloa could not hide his indignation at the refereeing team's decision. He sharply asserted: “For me, that was clearly a penalty, visible here and even on the Moon. It's just another incident to add to the long list of injustices we have faced.”

The Spanish strategist also expressed skepticism about the transparency of referee-assisting technology: “I don't understand why VAR didn't intervene. It only appears when it wants. Another foul on Mbappe earlier, much lighter, was penalized, while this tackle wasn't. It's the same old story repeating.”

Beyond the refereeing controversies, Arbeloa also defended Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe against recent criticism over poor form. He argued the issue lies in collective improvement when facing deep defensive blocks, rather than blaming the world's best individuals.

This draw extended Real Madrid's winless streak to three matches. Currently, they stand second with 70 points, trailing rival Barcelona by 6 points but having played one more game. If refereeing errors continue to persist, Real Madrid's path to defending their crown in La Liga this year appears to have reached a dead end.