By Jude Chukwura
Lamine Yamal has brushed aside Real Madrid’s complaints
about refereeing decisions in their weekend defeat to Real Betis, saying the
matter has nothing to do with Barcelona.
Real Madrid suffered their first setback of the La Liga
season at the Estadio de La Cartuja, losing 1-0 after Troy Parrott scored nine
minutes from full time.
The result also sparked fresh debate over a late penalty
involving Kylian Mbappe. Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles saved the French
striker’s effort, but Madrid manager Jose Mourinho argued that a defender had
entered the penalty area too early and should have triggered a retake.
Mourinho also questioned why VAR officials did not intervene
over the incident.
Yamal, however, showed little interest in becoming involved
in the controversy when asked about the issue before Barcelona’s Champions
League match on Wednesday.
The teenage forward made it clear that Madrid’s
difficulties, including their failure to win the Spanish title for two
consecutive seasons, were matters for the club itself.
“I don’t know. We’re very happy with the refereeing and
everything so far. Those are questions you should ask them,” Yamal said,
according to Fabrizio Romano.
“If Real Madrid have not won La Liga for two years, that is
their problem.”
The comments underline the growing rivalry between the two
Spanish giants, with Yamal emerging as one of Barcelona’s leading attacking
players at the start of the new campaign.
The 19-year-old has already found the net four times in his
opening four league appearances, including two goals during Barcelona’s
emphatic 5-0 victory over Valencia.
While Real Madrid look to recover from their unexpected loss
to Betis, Barcelona will turn their attention to European competition as they
prepare for Wednesday’s Champions League fixture.
Yamal’s focus, meanwhile, appears firmly on Barcelona’s own
campaign rather than the controversy surrounding their biggest domestic rivals.
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