Referee denies Barcelona a clear penalty for handball

Referee Jaime Latre refused Barcelona two penalties in their narrow win over Malaga on Saturday. He didn’t point to the spot after Miguel Torres handles the ball when Neymar looked to go past him. Many players, including Neymar and Messi, asked him to give the penalty, but he wouldn’t point to the spot.

It was an action very similar to one which took place at the Bernabeu last season. On that occasion, a spot kick was given against Barça defender Gerard Pique. Barça went on to lose that game 3-1. It was Luis Enrique’s first game against Real Madrid as the Catalan clubs’s manager. 

Two minutes after Neymar was refused that penalty, Angeleri brought down Suarez inside the penalty area. The Uruguayan asked for a penalty, but once again Jaime Latre refused to give it. In this case, there was more doubt, but Malaga couldn’t have complained if the referee had awarded it. 

It wasn’t until the 42nd minute that a Malaga player, Recio, was even booked for repeated fouls. In the end, Barça went on to win the game thanks to a second half goal from Thomas Vermaelen in his third straight La Liga start.