Real Madrid has taken a firm stance following their dramatic 3-3 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. The Spanish club has officially requested that UEFA provide the full audio recordings from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) related to a key penalty incident involving Kylian Mbappe.
The moment in question occurred in the 64th minute of the match at the Santiago Bernabeu. With PSG leading 2-1, Mbappe surged into the Madrid penalty area and went down under a challenge from defender Eder Militao. Referee Daniele Orsato immediately pointed to the spot, awarding a penalty to the visitors without consulting the pitch-side monitor.
Madrid’s players and coaching staff were visibly furious with the decision, surrounding the official to protest. Despite their appeals, the call stood. Mbappe stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, putting PSG 3-1 ahead and seemingly in control of the Round of 16 tie.
However, the match was far from over. A stunning late comeback from Carlo Ancelotti’s side saw Rodrygo score in the 88th minute before captain Karim Benzema completed the fightback with a 91st-minute equalizer, sealing a 3-3 aggregate draw that sent Madrid through to the quarter-finals on away goals.
Despite the ultimate victory, Real Madrid’s leadership remains deeply dissatisfied with the penalty award. The club believes the VAR process was flawed and that the on-field referee should have been advised to review the incident himself. In a formal statement released on Wednesday, the club confirmed it has “requested the relevant audio recordings from the VAR room to understand the criteria and communication that led to the decision.”
This move escalates Madrid’s position from on-pitch complaints to an official inquiry. The club insists its request is not about contesting the match result, which they celebrate, but about seeking clarity and transparency in the application of VAR protocols for future matches. UEFA has yet to publicly respond to the request.
The incident has reignited the ongoing debate about the consistency and communication of VAR decisions in top-level football. All eyes will now be on European football’s governing body to see if they grant Madrid’s unprecedented request and shed light on one of the tie’s most controversial moments.
