Refereeing Scandal? Experts Claim Barcelona Star Dani Olmo was “Robbed” of a Red Card Decision in Bilbao

FC Barcelona’s hard-fought encounter against Athletic Club at San Mamés has been overshadowed by a major refereeing controversy. Experts and former officials are questioning why Athletic’s Rigo was allowed to stay on the pitch after a “brutal” challenge on Barcelona playmaker Dani Olmo during Saturday’s Matchweek 27 clash.

The incident occurred when Rigo caught Olmo from behind with a full-force stamp on his Achilles tendon. Despite the visible intensity of the challenge and furious protests from the Barcelona players, referee Munuera Montero opted only for a yellow card. Even more baffling to many was the silence from the VAR room, led by Valentín Pizarro, who declined to intervene for a potential red card review.

“A Clear Red Card”: Expert Analysis

The decision has sparked a wave of criticism from refereeing analysts. Speaking on TV3’s “Gol a Gol” program, former top-flight officials Xavier Estrada and Joan Fabregas were unanimous in their verdict: Rigo should have been sent off.

“The stamp was directly on the Achilles tendon with the foot planted firmly on the ground,” explained Estrada. “For me, it is a clear red card. It is frustrating to see VAR fail to act in such high-stakes moments.” Estrada also pointed out a pattern of inconsistency, noting that the same VAR official, Valentín Pizarro, was involved in a similar controversial non-dismissal involving Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger just a week prior.

VAR Under Fire

Joan Fabregas was equally scathing in his assessment of the modern use of technology. “We were seeing red cards for these types of challenges eight years ago. The footage is crystal clear, and I simply don’t understand the misuse of VAR lately. It’s becoming a major source of frustration for everyone involved in the game,” Fabregas added.

Olmo Injury Update

Fortunately for Hansi Flick, early reports from Sport suggest that Dani Olmo narrowly escaped a serious long-term injury. While the impact was significant enough to force him off the pitch minutes later—replaced by Fermín López—it is currently believed to be a severe bruise rather than a tear or structural damage to the Achilles.