In a tense Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid won 1-0 against Athletic Bilbao thanks to a stunning strike from Federico Valverde in the 90th minute. But beyond this last-minute victory, a burning controversy is rocking the world of Spanish football: an obvious penalty awarded to Jude Bellingham was simply ignored by referee Martinez Munuera.

The tension was already palpable before kickoff. With a seven-point deficit to FC Barcelona in the standings, the Merengues had no room for error heading into the 32nd matchday of La Liga. Without the suspended Mbappé, the Madrid players came up against a perfectly organized Basque defense.

The match seemed to be slowly slipping towards a frustrating draw, especially after Vinicius’s 79th-minute goal was ruled out for Endrick’s offside position, which was flagged by VAR. The atmosphere then became charged with electric tension.

But the most controversial moment came shortly after: a contentious action in the Bilbao penalty area, where Jude Bellingham was clearly knocked off balance. The VAR replays were unequivocal: clear contact, obvious fall… yet, no whistle, no VAR consultation. Martinez Munuera remained unmoved. This referee’s silence immediately sparked a wave of indignation on social media and in the Madrid press.

Fortunately for Ancelotti’s men, Valverde liberated an entire stadium with a brilliant strike in the dying seconds. A masterpiece that kept Real Madrid just four points behind Barça. But this incident raises a disturbing question: how could such a penalty have been ignored in 2025, in the era of ubiquitous VAR?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEPZcyoTShg