Should Barcelona have had a penalty for foul on Lamine Yamal against Rayo?

Barcelona's Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal reacts during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on March 22, 2026. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

Barcelona’s La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano saw some controversy in the first half when Lamine Yamal claimed a penalty for a foul in the penalty area by Pathe Ciss.

Yamal tried to cut past the Rayo player but went down and appealed for a spot-kick. Referee Adrián Cordero Vega decided not to give the foul and was backed by VAR official Raúl Martínez González.

Ciss definitely dangled a leg and Yamal needed little intervention to go down but it wasn’t enough to convince the match officials.

⁉️💥 ¿Hay penalti de Pathé Ciss sobre Lamine Yamal?

✅ 𝗡𝗢.

👉🏻 Si bien es cierto que Ciss saca la pierna derecha y se la juega, Lamine da la zancada por encima de ella y se deja caer.

▪️ Cordero Vega, perfectamente situado, indicó en directo que no había nada punible. pic.twitter.com/MwImyofpgp

— Archivo VAR (@ArchivoVAR) March 22, 2026

Former Spainsh referee Iturralde González told SER that he thought it was a foul: “It’s a penalty, he swung his leg. It’s one thing for Pathé Ciss to be standing still, but he swung his leg.

“I understand it’s a close call for VAR to intervene. What the referee can’t do is make him get up because there’s contact, and if he tells him to get up, it’s a card.”

What do you think about the incident? Should Barcelona have been given a spot-kick? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com