Butragueño: “We weren’t lucky with referee Hernandez Hernandez once more”

Former Real Madrid player and now spokesperson for the club Emilio Butragueño talked to Movistar+ after the Madrid Derby against Atletico de Madrid, which ended 1-1 after some controversy with the referee. Hernandez Hernandez decided not to call a penalty for Real Madrid even though the assistant referees in charge of the VAR told him to go see the replay to the monitor.

“During the first half there’s a play which ends up being decisive, the process of it all I believe is right, VAR tells Hernandez Hernandez to check the replay so that he makes the decision, as they should. We believe it’s a penalty, it’s quite obvious that the ball hits his hand. He makes the decision, we weren’t lucky with Hernandez Hernandez once more,” said Butragueño.

The former player went on and explained how that decision hurt Real’s chances of getting what would’ve been a crucial win.

“The ball hits his hand, that’s clear and we can all agree on that. From our own point of view, it’s a penalty, but there are professionals who have to make the decisions. We don’t want to say a lot more, it was a pity because it was a critical moment in the game which could’ve meant the equalizer and we would’ve played the second half in a different way. What else can we say? I insist, the referee goes, VAR tells him to go, we think that’s the way it’s supposed to happen and that the referee has to make a decision, but we weren’t lucky,” concluded Butragueño.

Coach Zinedine Zidane refused to comment on that particular play. Real Madrid are still five points behind Atletico, with Simeone’s men having a game at hand.