Atlético de Madrid’s Argentine striker Ángel Correa in action against Vic’s Roger Cunill Maciá in the Copa del Rey match (EFE/ Siu Wu)
The confrontation between UE Vic and Atlético de Madrid in the Copa del Rey has sparked heated controversy after a controversial action that has once again put the absence of VAR in the spotlight in the initial phases of the tournament. This play, which involved an alleged unsignaled handball inside the area, has reignited the debate about the need to implement video refereeing technology from the first rounds.
Since the 2018-2019 season, when LaLiga introduced VAR, Spanish football has witnessed a significant transformation in terms of fairness and precision in refereeing. Many in the sports world value VAR as a tool that has corrected countless decisions that could have changed the outcome of a match, providing a level of review that was previously impossible. However, this development has also brought with it criticism from those who believe that the essence of football is being lost, and that it interrupts the natural flow of the game.
In Europe, most major competitions have already fully integrated VAR, ensuring constant technological oversight at high-level matches. But the Copa del Rey maintains a particular format that has postponed its use until the most advanced qualifying rounds, generating a point of contention among fans and sports analysts.
The Copa del Rey is characterized by its competitive spirit, allowing modest teams to compete against the country’s big clubs. This, coupled with the single-match knockout format through to the semi-finals, adds a layer of excitement and unpredictability to each match. However, the lack of sufficient technological means in many of the stadiums where the first matches are played is the main obstacle to implementing VAR from the start of the tournament.
This situation leaves clubs and their followers in a dilemma: on the one hand, the emotion and romanticism of football in its purest state; on the other, the desire for equity and justice that the use of VAR represents today. In the specific case of the match between UE Vic and Atlético Madrid, the goal not called for the alleged handball has sparked angry claims and raised questions about how the situation could have been handled if VAR had been available.
The Spanish Football Federation has established in past editions that the VAR comes into action from the round of 16, justified by the technical and economic limitations of the preliminary rounds. This decision has been constantly debated, as some advocate that all Copa del Rey matches, regardless of the teams’ phase or infrastructure, should have the same refereeing conditions.
The VAR controversy at these stages is not only an issue of technical capacity, but also a question of preserving equal opportunities for all teams competing in the Cup. Many wonder whether in the future it will be possible to find a balance that combines technological justice with the traditions of football in direct elimination competitions. The debate remains open as the tournament progresses, and the uncalled handball in UE Vic’s match against Atlético de Madrid will remain in the conversations as a living memory of the need to discuss and adapt the rules of the game based on expectations and the technological possibilities of modern times.
