Almeria star claims ‘someone decided we weren’t allowed to win’ after Real Madrid’s controversial victory and VAR calls
FURIOUS Almeria claim they “weren’t allowed to win” after a number of hotly-debated VAR calls in their defeat at Real Madrid.
And Jude Bellingham was involved in the most controversial to leave LaLiga’s bottom club fuming.
The Bernabeu was shocked as Almeria went into the half-time break looking like they were about to secure their first win of the season as they led 2-0 thanks to Largie Ramazani and Edgar Gonzalez.
However, Madrid bounced back after the restart to triumph 3-2 to close the gap on leaders Girona to just a point.
But their win was marred by a number of decisions that left Almeria claiming on their official website that the referee and VAR had “ruined” their day while defender Marc Pubill went even further.
He told DAZN: “I think that someone decided that we weren’t allowed to win here at Bernabeu today, and that’s what happened. Nothing more to say.”
Bellingham pulled one back from the penalty spot, which was awarded in debatable fashion after Joselu had headed the ball on to Kaiky Fernandes’ arm from close-range.
But then the main talking point came moments later in the 61st-minute after Almeria appeared to have restored their two-goal lead.
Sergio Arribas finished off a counter-attack but his celebration was cut short when VAR intervened.
And, after a three-minute check, his strike was eventually ruled out.
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Footage of the VAR officials discussing the live incident was released after the match, and they ultimately ruled that Almeria’s Dion Lopy had caught Real’s England international Bellingham in the face while winning the ball back in the build-up.
His flailing hand did look to catch Bellingham as they fought for possession in the Almeria half, leading to the £114m ace going to ground, only for the on-field ref to let play continue.
In an action-packed few minutes, Madrid then levelled when Vinicius Jr turned in Aurelien Tchouameni’s cross – only for that to initially be ruled out also for handball.
But after he checked replays on the pitchside monitor, he eventually awarded the goal.
Almeria were incensed but there was another cruel twist to come for them as Dani Carvajal latched on to a Bellingham header in the TENTH MINUTE of additional time to win it.
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