There is no lack of arbitration controversies in this Super Cup. If it was the criterion in the hand of Frenkie De Jong first, which was proven correct, and later, the possible penalty by hand that was far from being but that was revised for Real Madrid, the final could not be absent with the expulsion of Leo Messi for attacking Villalibre, Athletic forward, in the last minute of extra time .
In an attack by Barcelona, Messi tried to get away from the area, Villalibre won the space and, with the ball far away, it hit him to get it out of his way. “They have to expel Messi because there is movement of his arm. It is expulsion. Villalibre gets inside him and lets go of his arm. Red”, assured Iturralde González, an analyst at AS and Cadena SER. “He was sent off for hitting an opponent with his arm using excessive force while the ball was in play but not at a distance from being played,” explained Gil Manzano in his minutes to ratify his decision.
The action, which was also checked by the VAR, leaves little doubt but a new take opens the debate. Among all those that were seen, A frontal shot appears where Asier Villalibre crosses and Messi pushes him aside to make his way. This video, already viral on social networks, makes several fans and even the press in Argentina question whether they could not change the color of the card and the penalty.
This will be of several parties. The Argentine is safe down the red to face Cornellá in the Copa del Rey and he will not be able to play against Elche in LaLiga either. Then, the Competition Committee will evaluate the action to decide if there is more sanction or not. The Barça will be able, of course, to appeal the sentence that this first committee applies.
