Rayo Vallecano was left frustrated after a malfunctioning VAR system affected their match against Barcelona, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The incident occurred when Lamine Yamal converted a penalty in the 40th minute after a collision with Rayo's Pep Chavarría. Rayo's players believed the decision to award the penalty should have been overturned, but a VAR review could not take place due to technical issues.

MEDIAPRO, the company responsible for administering VAR in La Liga, confirmed that the technology experienced a failure during the first half, preventing its proper functioning. A statement acknowledged the issue, stating that despite efforts to restore the service, it could not be fixed in time for the first half but was operational in the second half.

The decision to award the penalty led to furious reactions from Rayo's coach, Iñigo Pérez, who later expressed regret for his emotional response on the sidelines. He criticized the inconsistency of VAR usage during the match, stating, "It's not fair that players and officials aren't protected." Pérez emphasized the need for better protocols in situations where VAR is malfunctioning, suggesting that games should be suspended until the technology is operational.

Rayo forward Isi revealed that the referee, Mateo Busquets Ferrer, admitted to making a mistake in awarding the penalty. Despite the frustration, Rayo managed to equalize in the second half through Fran Pérez's first goal for the club, salvaging a point against the reigning Spanish champions.

The VAR malfunction has raised questions about the reliability of the technology in critical match situations, with calls for improvements in operational protocols to ensure fairness for both teams involved.