The former referee gives his verdict on the phase in which Andrei Rațiu asked for a penalty with Barcelona: “It's clear!”
Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – Published Sunday, March 22, 2026, 5:43 p.m. / Updated Sunday, March 22, 2026, 5:46 p.m.
Sports publications in Spain gave their verdict on the phase for which Andrei Rațiu (27 years old) requested a penalty in the match Barcelona – Rayo Vallecanoscore 1-0, from round number 29 in La Liga.
Andrei Rațiu had a solid performance at Camp Nou, and this could be completed by obtaining the penalty he requested in the 35th minute. Being in the corner of the Catalans' box, the Romanian passed the ball past Fermin Lopez, then he was hit in the leg by the Spaniard.
“Central” Cordero let the game continue, and those in the VAR room did not intervene. Most sports publications in Spain believe that Rațiu should not have received a penalty kick. The arbitration expert from AS, however, makes a discordant note and believes that the award of the penalty should have been imposed.
What the Spaniards wrote about the penalty requested by Andrei Rațiu in Barcelona – Rayo Vallecano
Iturralde Gonzalez, former referee and AS publication specialist, believes that Rațiu was fouled. “It's a clear penalty kick, much clearer than Lamine's. It's a clear penalty kick,” he concluded.
Otherwise, the rest of the publications considered that it was too light a contact for Rațiu to receive a penalty.
“There is a contact, but it seems a fairly light one,” wrote Marca.
“Rațiu falls in the box, after a contact with Fermin. Just like in the case of Lamine, there was a slight contact”, those from Mundo Deportivo noted.
It was the 26th match that Rațiu played in this La Liga season. He managed to provide 3 decisive assists. Rațiu is expected to start on the right flank of the defense in the tie with Turkey, scheduled for Thursday, March 26, from 19:00.
