Referee José María Sánchez Martínez has caused a stir after admitting, in an unusual and unexpected move, that he made a mistake in a crucial decision during Real Madrid’s match against Mallorca. His statement, “It was my fault,” sparked renewed debate about the disallowed goal against Arda Güler, although many now believe it was still valid.

In a thrilling La Liga match on August 30, 2025, Real Madrid defeated Mallorca 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu in a hard-fought victory. However, the match was marred by controversial refereeing decisions, with three goals disallowed: two against Kylian Mbappé for offside and a third against Arda Güler for an alleged handball.

Arda Güler’s shot, which would have put Madrid ahead in the second half, was disallowed by VAR. According to the audio recording released by the RFEF, referee Sánchez Martínez was warned by VAR referee Juan Luis Pulido Santana to review the goal. The referee, after reviewing the recording, considered the goal “accidental” but “spontaneous,” which falls within the rules that automatically disallow such goals.

Both fans and commentators were stunned. Many pointed out that Güler’s arm was glued to his body, making it look more like an instinctive act of protection than a deliberate infraction. Mallorca midfielder Sergi Darder also joined the debate, saying: “Arda Güler’s goal? In my opinion, this isn’t a handball at all.”

Refereeing experts also weighed in. Former referee Iturralde González, while acknowledging the controversial nature of the decision, defended it by arguing that both the on-field referees and the VAR officials followed proper protocol and applied the rules correctly.

VAR footage captures the intensity of the moment. Before making the decision, Sánchez Martínez repeatedly requested a freeze-frame of the contact and, after zooming in to confirm the handball was instantaneous, declared: “The handball was accidental, instantaneous… I’ll disallow the goal.”

However, the referee’s recent admission of error has unexpectedly added fuel to the fire. In a rare instance, the referee reportedly admitted that the disallowance of the goal could have been a mistake, saying, “It was my fault.” While the precise context of this admission remains unclear, its implications are profound: Could Güler’s goal be awarded retroactively if the referee doubts the decision? So far, official regulatory bodies have not confirmed whether any action will be taken.

This admission has sparked an uproar among Real Madrid fans, who have demanded a reconsideration of the decision and intervention by the Royal Spanish Football Federation or LaLiga authorities. This incident could be one of the few occasions in which a disallowed goal can be reconsidered after a match; a notable turning point in the often rigid rules of football.

Although the score remained stable and Madrid secured its third consecutive league victory, controversy continued to dominate the match. The referee’s admission offered a glimmer of hope in an already bleak situation for Real Madrid fans, raising crucial questions about consistency, the interpretation of handball rules, and the role of human error in modern football officiating.

Ultimately, this situation could be more than just a post-match complaint. It could be a turning point in the handling of controversial decisions by football administrations, especially when the referee in charge admits the decision was wrong. It remains to be seen whether Arda Güler’s goal will be allowed, but one thing is certain: Sánchez Martínez’s honesty has brought the matter to the forefront like few other incidents.