Written by Nwosu Chizoba David | @footballheadlyn | Zoba Digital Media LTD, 2025
In the aftermath of Barcelona’s recent fixture, a wave of confusion and controversy erupted over a comment heard during the VAR review process — “just as well.” Many fans, especially Culés, were left frustrated, interpreting the phrase as a sign of bias or sarcasm from the video assistant referees.
However, a new report from Sport sheds light on what actually happened in the VOR (Video Operation Room) and puts the viral quote into proper context.
According to the Spanish outlet, the phrase “just as well” had nothing to do with influencing the referee’s decision. Instead, it was a reaction to discovering a second angle of the handball incident involving López — an angle that made the infraction far clearer. This new perspective allowed the officials to proceed with more confidence, confirming that the handball was indeed punishable.
Speaking on Cadena SER, former top-flight referee Eduardo Iturralde González clarified the misunderstanding, explaining that the comment reflected relief rather than judgement. "It was said in reference to finding a second image that made everything easier to see," he noted.
Supporting this explanation, Spanish football journalist Isaac Fouto added that the team in the VAR room was simply expressing relief after struggling to find a conclusive angle. Once the clearer footage emerged, it helped solidify their analysis and led to the correct application of the rules.
So while emotions were understandably high — especially with Barcelona fans feeling targeted in key matches — it’s important to separate frustration from facts. This incident reminds us of how easily audio snippets can be misinterpreted when taken out of context, especially in high-stakes games.
As the debate around VAR transparency continues, let’s hope La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation consider releasing full audio logs more consistently to avoid such confusion in the future.
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