CTA admits a "clear and obvious error" by VAR and referee in the penalty not awarded to Raúl against Espanyol

The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has acknowledged that a clear and obvious error was made by both the referee and VAR when no penalty was awarded for an action on Raúl during the Osasuna-Espanyol match in LaLiga matchday 4. The RFEF has released the findings of the latest edition of 'Tiempo de Revisión', a programme that breaks down the most controversial moments of the championship.

• The RFEF publishes episode 4 of 'Tiempo de Revisión' with six incidents from the first and second divisions.
• The CTA calls the penalty not awarded to Raúl in Osasuna-Espanyol a clear and obvious error by the referee and VAR.
• Ochieng's handball in Real Sociedad-Atlético de Madrid was correctly punished with a penalty, according to the refereeing analysis.
• VAR was right to intervene in a rough challenge by Elche against Real Sociedad that ended in a red card.

Which incidents are analysed in episode 4 of 'Tiempo de Revisión'

The Federation has selected six incidents split across the first and second divisions. The selection is made through an artificial intelligence system promoted by LaLiga, which detects the most impactful moments and submits them to review. The goal is to provide an educational explanation of refereeing criteria and VAR intervention in each case.

The penalty not awarded to Raúl against Espanyol, a decision with a double mistake

The most talked-about moment of matchday 4 took place at El Sadar. Raúl appealed for a penalty that neither the on-field referee nor VAR awarded, a situation that the Technical Committee of Referees now describes without hesitation. The CTA speaks of a clear and obvious error by the referee and VAR, a rare admission that puts the spotlight back on how the video assistant referee system works for this kind of contact inside the box.

Ochieng's handball in Real Sociedad-Atlético de Madrid was a penalty

Another controversial moment from matchday 5 came in the match between Real Sociedad and Atlético de Madrid. The ball lightly touched Ochieng's thigh and kept its original path before hitting the arm of the Real Sociedad player, which was open, away from his body and in an unnatural position. The CTA stresses that it was a touch on the thigh and not a deliberate play, so the referee was right to award a penalty.

VAR corrects the referee in Elche-Real Sociedad with a sending off

The programme also reviews the VAR intervention in the match between Elche and Real Sociedad. After checking the incident on the pitchside monitor, the referee changed his initial decision and awarded a direct free kick as well as showing the red card to the offender. The CTA sees the video assistant referee's intervention as a successful correction of a clear and obvious mistake by the on-field official.

How 'Tiempo de Revisión' works and what is at stake in the competition

The RFEF programme has become a useful tool for explaining the most debated decisions of each matchday. With the championship already into its fifth round, teams are collecting points that could prove decisive in the battles for Europe, survival and the title. Having clear criteria on when VAR should intervene and when it should not is key to understanding how refereeing develops over the season.