Overview
- At a public gala, Barcelona president Joan Laporta mimicked a fall and called Real Madrid’s decisive spot-kick a “dive.”
- Later, he described the call as “questionable,” accused Brahim Díaz of throwing himself down, and argued referees are favoring Madrid under pressure from its TV channel.
- The penalty was awarded deep in stoppage time after Díaz went down in the box, VAR did not overturn the decision, and Kylian Mbappé converted for a 2-1 win at the Bernabéu.
- Madrid’s victory reduced Barcelona’s La Liga advantage to a single point as the title race tightens.
- The exchange comes as relations between the clubs deteriorate following January’s Super Cup, adding scrutiny on new Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa.