Offside by Vinicius on Brahim Diaz’s Goal? Referee Iturralde Gonzalez Gives a Lesson

The controversy surrounding Brahim Diaz’s goal against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League continues to spark debate among football experts. While some claim that Vinicius Junior was offside and interfered with the play, former Spanish referee Iturralde Gonzalez has stepped in to clarify the situation.

Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16. In a match where clear-cut chances were scarce, Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Diaz managed to find the back of the net with well-executed goals. However, the latter’s strike in the 54th minute has become the subject of heated discussion.

Shortly after the final whistle, several Catalan media outlets, including Mundo Deportivo, reported that Vinicius Junior’s positioning obstructed Jan Oblak’s vision, indirectly influencing the goal. This claim has ignited a debate among fans and analysts alike, with Barcelona supporters questioning UEFA’s credibility and fairness towards Real Madrid.

The controversy gained traction on social media, where many Barcelona fans took the opportunity to accuse the refereeing body of favoring their historic rivals. In response, UEFA quickly dismissed any doubts regarding the goal’s legitimacy. The governing body’s referee committee confirmed that there was no violation of the rules and that Brahim Diaz’s goal should stand.

To further clarify the situation, former Spanish referee Iturralde Gonzalez weighed in on the matter, offering a technical explanation to debunk the allegations. Without mincing words, the ex-international official called for rational analysis rather than emotional reactions.

“The problem with judging situations based on a single image is that it distorts reality. Vinicius was in motion, moving away from the goal, and the ball was directed towards the far post where Oblak had no chance of reaching it,” Gonzalez explained.

Accompanied by video footage, Gonzalez urged skeptics to review the entire sequence instead of focusing on a single frame. “At the moment Brahim Diaz strikes the ball, Oblak already has a clear view of it and attempts a dive to stop it but fails. In football, particularly in dynamic plays where player movement is crucial to determining interference, using still images completely misrepresents reality,” he added.

The former referee also pointed out that perspective plays a significant role in analyzing such incidents. “If the image had been captured from the opposite side of the pitch, the interpretation would be completely different. This is why taking snapshots out of context leads to misleading conclusions.”

Iturralde Gonzalez further emphasized that the referees officiating the Madrid derby had acted within the rules and had no reason to disallow the goal. His assessment aligns with UEFA’s position, reinforcing the notion that the goal was correctly awarded.

Despite this clarification, the controversy refuses to die down, especially among Barcelona fans who continue to fuel the debate online. Many supporters argue that if Vinicius’s presence influenced the play in any way, the goal should have been ruled out for offside interference.

Interestingly, comparisons have been drawn between this incident and a similar play involving Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez in the Premier League. Some critics suggest that if Brahim Diaz’s goal was allowed to stand, then similar standards should apply to other controversial goals across different leagues.

However, football laws clearly state that a player in an offside position must actively obstruct the goalkeeper’s vision or make a deliberate play for the ball to be penalized. In Vinicius’s case, no such interference was evident, reinforcing the decision made by the match officials.

The debate highlights the ongoing challenges referees face in making split-second decisions that can significantly impact match outcomes. With VAR technology now playing a crucial role in modern football, incidents like these will always be scrutinized from multiple angles.

Regardless of differing opinions, one thing is certain—Real Madrid secured an important victory, giving them the advantage heading into the second leg. As the Champions League drama unfolds, all eyes will be on the return fixture to see if Atletico Madrid can overturn the deficit.

For now, Iturralde Gonzalez’s explanation stands as the definitive answer to the controversy. His insights serve as a reminder that football decisions should be analyzed in full context rather than through isolated snapshots that may distort the truth.