The Riojan referee Soto Grado, appointed for Las Palmas-Real Madrid, was the protagonist at the start of the match at the Gran Canaria Stadium, corresponding to matchday 22 of the League. The referee has forgiven the expulsion of Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, who slapped local goalkeeper Álvaro Vallés with his full hand. The aggression, without the ball involved, resulted in a yellow card.
He also did not show the second yellow when he elbowed Sergi Cardona in the face in the 67th minute.
The controversial action came in the 4th minute, with the score 0-0. The forward was offside in a Madrid attack when receiving a pass from Ceballos. Goalkeeper Vallés verbally rebuked Rodrygo, who shook him off with a slap on the goalkeeper’s neck.
Vallés collapsed to the ground – in an exaggerated manner – and the referee resolved the scuffle with a yellow card for Rodrygo.
Soto Grado, who this week has been questioned by Real Madrid TV, did not consult the VAR nor did Prieto Iglesias, the VAR referee, demand his attention from the Las Rozas room to review the image.
In the preview of the match, Carlo Ancelotti responded to Joan Laporta’s comment that the “Liga is adulterated” (after the scandal at the Bernabeu against Almería last week) by accusing Barça of having corrupted the competition during the last 20 years, in reference to the Negreira case.
The usual protagonist Vinícius also had a role in the controversy’s skit. In the 28th minute, the Brazilian claimed a foul and a card against Perrone for an alleged blow to the face when both were struggling for a ball. Soto Grado did not grant a foul or a warning.
The controversy continued in the Canarian stadium with a possible penalty, claimed by the local team, for Ceballos’ knockdown of Sergi Cardona.
In an attack by Las Palmas, the ball was going towards the baseline, Ceballos, slow, arrived late to the cut and contacted Cardona, who fell on the grass. The referee, Soto Grado, did not observe any punishable action.
