Spanish VAR official Carlos del Cerro Grande has become a lightning rod for controversy following a series of disputed decisions that have consistently gone against FC Barcelona while raising questions about impartiality in La Liga officiating. The Madrid-based referee's latest involvement in Barcelona's 2-1 defeat to Real Sociedad on January 18, 2026, has reignited debate about his track record with the Catalan club.
At Anoeta Stadium, Del Cerro Grande made three pivotal VAR decisions that all went against Barcelona. He disallowed Lamine Yamal's goal for marginal offside after approximately ten minutes of review, overturned Fermín López's goal for minimal contact between Dani Olmo and Takefusa Kubo, and validated Mikel Oyarzabal's winning goal despite a clear push by Jon Aramburu on Dani Olmo in the buildup. Coach Hansi Flick demanded explanations but received none.
This incident mirrors a controversial match on November 10, 2024, when Del Cerro Grande disallowed a Robert Lewandowski goal at the same stadium using a disputed VAR offside image. The semi-automatic system appeared to misidentify defender Nayef Aguerd's boot as Lewandowski's, creating a viral meme and widespread accusations of image manipulation. Barcelona lost that match 1-0 to Real Sociedad, with the same VAR official at the center of controversy.
Del Cerro Grande has been involved in other contentious Barcelona decisions, including upgrading a yellow card to a direct red for Fermín López after initially the on-field referee showed only a caution. After the January 2026 defeat, Flick sarcastically told journalists that Del Cerro Grande had done very well, then pointedly asked if it was the same VAR official who had disallowed Lewandowski's goal the previous season at Anoeta.
Critics point to a perceived double standard in Spanish football officiating. Former referee Xavi Estrada Fernández accused VAR officials of potentially manipulating offside images, citing the unjustified ten-minute delay in reaching decisions as evidence. Meanwhile, Real Madrid has filed formal complaints to FIFA about VAR decisions in La Liga, though Barcelona supporters cite Del Cerro Grande's record as evidence of bias specifically against their club.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta expressed fury at the officiating following the defeat, which reduced Barcelona's La Liga lead over Real Madrid to just one point and reignited the title race. The controversy has taken a darker turn with threats against Del Cerro Grande, including a banner at Espanyol stadium depicting him with a target on his forehead. Spain's professional referees have called for urgent measures against football violence, though the debate over VAR impartiality continues to dominate Spanish football discourse.