Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo unleashed scathing criticism toward the referee and match officials after a controversial penalty was awarded against him in the early stages of Barcelona’s 4–1 defeat to Sevilla. The Uruguayan appeared visibly frustrated and confrontational, later being heard accusing the referee of being duped by the attacker’s theatrics — remarks confirmed in multiple reports.
The incident occurred around the 13th minute, when Sevilla’s Isaac Romero went down in the box following a tussle with Araujo. Initially, Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz—the match referee—did not award a penalty, but after a VAR review led by Carlos del Cerro Grande, the decision was overturned. The audio of the officials’ conversation was later released, confirming their reasoning: Romero appeared to wrap his legs around Araujo’s, and while Araujo never touched the ball, his leg was judged to have obstructed Romero’s path.
As the penalty call was made, Araujo could be heard shouting:
“It’s UNBELIEVABLE what you’re doing, unbelievable.”
He later addressed the fourth official:
“You swallowed it, you believed it, you took the BAIT.”
The vehement reaction underscores the defender’s belief that the decision was not only unfair but a result of deception on the part of the opposing side. Barcelona supporters and analysts have echoed that view, with former referee Mateu Lahoz calling the penalty one of the most egregious he has seen in recent times.
In post-match analysis, many pointed to the decision as a turning point. The match was already going poorly for Barça, and conceding such an early penalty further destabilised their rhythm.
For Araujo, such a public spectacle reflects both his passion and frustration. It remains to be seen whether the referee’s conduct or VAR’s influence will face scrutiny in official reviews — and whether this moment will have broader consequences in how referees handle similar challenges going forward.
Africa Digital News, New York
