Article by Aurelian Botezatu – Published Monday, May 11, 2026, 08:59 / Updated Monday, May 11, 2026 09:00
FC Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 2-0 to be crowned champions of Spain for the second consecutive year with 3 legs to go before the final whistle of the championship.
The incident happened in the 53rd minute, at 2-0, when Barcelona defender Eric Garcia elbowed Jude Bellingham in the face inside the penalty area. The Real Madrid midfielder lay on the pitch for more than a minute and received medical attention, but referee Alejandro Hernández did not award the penalty requested by the guests.
Asked during the press conference at the end about that phase, Alvaro Arbeloa thought his team deserved to be awarded a spot-kick. “It seemed clear to me that there was a bend therebut I congratulate Barcelona for winning La Liga today,” commented the Real Madrid coach.
Eric Garcia's elbow to Jude Bellingham / Photo: capture
“It's the result of a natural movement” vs “It's a penalty because Eric Garcia raises his elbow”
The specialists, in their turn, failed to agree. Former FIFA referee Alfonso Perez Burrull, who analyzes the controversial phases for the daily Marca, does not agree with Arbeloa. “In this action involving Eric García, there is contact with the elbow, but it is the result of a natural movement.
The two players are close to each other, it cannot be an elbow strike. There is no arm movement or intensity involved“, commented Perez Burrull on the “Marcador” show on Radio Marca.
Another well-known former Spanish referee, Itturalde Gonzalez, had a different opinion: “It's a penalty, because Eric Garcia raises his elbow. That's the key, the movement of the elbow to the face. Eric Garcia starts the phase with the elbow down, sees Bellingham coming and picks him up… so it should have been a penalty. When it is imprudent, VAR does not intervene, but when it is dangerous, VAR intervenes. Any movement in which the elbow goes towards the face is dangerous”.
Real Madrid TV: “It's a circus and a farce! It's terrible!”
Real Madrid TV, in turn, did not miss the opportunity to comment: “The Spanish league is not serious. The Spanish league, Tebas' league, Negreira's league. It's a circus and a farce. It's terrible. The way the Spanish league is broadcast is shameful.
The worst part is the lack of footage. When there were controversial phases, we saw excellent panoramic shots when Real Madrid were the target of the foul. Suddenly, once again, the transmission breaks during a crucial foul. And with Alejandro Hernández in the center, what can you expect?!”.
