Barcelona threaten to demand El Clasico be replayed over phantom goal controversy vs Real Madrid

Barcelona club president Joan Laporta is open to requesting El Clasico be replayed after his side’s controversial defeat to Real Madrid.

Jude Bellingham struck in the final moments of Sunday’s derby at the Bernabeu to complete a 3-2 comeback win for Los Blancos.

But Barcelona were left furious by Lamine Yamal being denied the goal that would have made it 2-1 during the first half, after officials decided his effort had not crossed the line.

Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin appeared to either deny the teenager with millimetres to spare, or escape conceding a controversial phantom goal by the finest of margins.

A lack of goalline technology in LaLiga has resulted in Barcelona directing their anger at VAR for opting not to give the goal upon review.

"If the club understands that an error was made in the revision of the incident, we will take all available measure to reverse the situation, without discounting, obviously, any necessary legal action," Laporta said.

"If it is confirmed that it was a legal goal, we will move ahead and we do not discount requesting that the game be replayed, just as has happened in another game in Europe due to a VAR error."

A Belgian Pro League match between Anderlecht and Genk, originally played in December, was scheduled to be replayed in full due to a VAR error, after the Disciplinary Council for Professional Football ruled in favour of a Genk appeal.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp floated the idea of a replay after a miscommunication between the VAR and on-field officials led to a legal Luis Diaz goal being chalked off in a defeat to Tottenham.

Laporta said he was dissatisfied with "improper use" of VAR, adding it was creating "confusions with contradictory criteria according to matches and teams".

"We understand the difficulty faced by officials, but it's for that reason that such tools exist which should help the competition be fairer and not the other way around."

On LaLiga’s lack of goalline technology, Barcelona coach Xavi described the situation as “embarrassing” as he echoed the sentiment of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The German said: “I can't find the words to explain what happened on the goalline.

“It's embarrassing for football. There is a lot of money in this industry, but not for what is important. I don't understand how there cannot be money to implement the technology that other leagues have.”

Additional reporting by Reuters.