Frenkie de Jong has launched a furious attack on the VAR officials who disallowed Pau Cubarsi’s second-half strike against Atletico Madrid, insisting the television images prove “there was no offside.”
‘The Photo Says It All’ – De Jong Tears Into VAR After Eight-Minute Farce
The Barcelona midfielder did not hold back in his assessment of the controversial moment that saw Cubarsi’s goal ruled out after an eight-minute delay, with the score at 4-1.
“I saw the image afterward and you can clearly see that there was no offside,” De Jong said.
“In the image shown on television regarding the offside, you can’t see the contact with the ball, and then you see the image where FermÃn shoots and the defender is a meter behind Robert. I think it’s very strange.”
The Dutch international directed his criticism specifically at the VAR protocol rather than referee MartÃnez Munuera.
“He can’t do much, because he’s also waiting. He doesn’t have the image or the video. But VAR does,” De Jong explained.
“The image I saw, if it’s not AI, which you don’t realize anymore… If this is the photo, it’s a scandal because it’s very clear.”
Barcelona thought they had extended their comfortable lead when Cubarsi found the net early in the second half.
The lengthy VAR review ultimately deemed the goal offside, leaving players and coaching staff bewildered on the sidelines.
De Jong’s frustration extends beyond the disallowed goal. Barcelona officials also expressed anger at referee Munuera’s failure to show Giuliano Simeone a red card following two reckless challenges on Alejandro Balde.
The combination of the overturned goal and the lenient treatment of Simeone’s tackles has left the Barcelona camp questioning the consistency of officiating standards.
De Jong’s comments reflect the growing tension between Barcelona and La Liga’s officiating bodies, with the midfielder making clear his disbelief at how technology produced such a contentious outcome from what he views as clear evidence.
The result leaves Barcelona frustrated not only by the dropped points but by decisions they believe fundamentally altered the contest’s complexion.
