Jude Bellingham’s first goal for Real Madrid against Malaga has been declared a valid one after a specialist refereeing account concluded that the midfielder committed no foul in the build-up.
Real Madrid took the lead in the 19th minute of their La Liga match at Santiago Bernabeu when Bellingham made a strong run through the Malaga defence before driving a powerful shot into the net.
Malaga’s players immediately appealed for a foul, claiming Bellingham had impeded Angel Recio at the beginning of the move. However, referee Martinez Munuera allowed the goal to stand.
The decision has since been examined by Archivo VAR, an account that focuses on refereeing incidents. Its assessment backed the referee’s judgement and rejected the claim that Bellingham had fouled his opponent.
“Was there a previous foul by Bellingham in Real Madrid’s first goal? No,” the account said.
It added: “The English player puts his hand on Angel Recio’s chest, who, when he loses the challenge for the ball, lets himself fall.”
The account concluded: “Referee Martinez Munuera, very close to the action, did not see anything punishable.”
The ruling addresses the main point of controversy surrounding Real Madrid’s opening goal, with the referee’s proximity to the incident also cited as a factor in supporting his decision.
A post shared alongside the assessment showed the scoring sequence and highlighted Real Madrid’s fast start. It stated: “Three goals in only half an hour! Real Madrid strike hard and score three goals against Malaga in the first 30 minutes of the match.”
The incident prompted debate among supporters, with readers also invited to discuss the story and other football news in the Kooora forums. Social media footage and the refereeing analysis kept the focus on the challenge involving Bellingham and Recio, rather than on the finish itself.
Bellingham’s goal came after he advanced directly into the Malaga defensive line and created the opportunity through his pace and power. His shot completed the move and gave Real Madrid the breakthrough at Santiago Bernabeu.
Although Malaga’s appeals suggested they believed the attack should have been stopped before the finish, the on-field decision remained unchanged. Archivo VAR’s review subsequently agreed that there was no punishable contact and that Martinez Munuera was correctly positioned to judge the incident.
The discussion therefore centred on whether Bellingham’s use of his arm was sufficient for a foul, with the refereeing account deciding that Recio went to ground after losing the contest for possession rather than being illegally brought down.
