At El Molinón Stadium in Gijón, the match between Sporting de Gijón and Racing de Santander has concluded, remembered not only for the game itself but also for a dramatic ending. The encounter unfolded in a tense atmosphere, and the outcome came as a surprise to both teams.
In added time at the end of the second half, after all eight minutes allotted by referee Manuel J. Orellana had elapsed, Racing was awarded a dangerous free kick. In the 100th minute, Andrés Martín delivered a cross, after which Sporting defender Pablo Vázquez headed the ball away. At that moment, Racing midfielder Mario García was first to the rebound and struck a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area.
The ball flew into the top corner of Sporting’s goal, but the visitors’ joy proved to be premature. The referee had already signaled the end of the match, and the goal was not counted. The episode sparked a wave of emotions both on the field and in the stands: Racing players insisted that the goal was scored before the final whistle, but the referee held firm.
During the protests, visiting midfielder Marco Sangalli was shown a straight red card for an overly emotional reaction. The situation grew more heated, and debate over the controversial decision continued after the final whistle.
At the press conference, Racing de Santander’s head coach José Alberto López did not hide his disappointment. According to him, the referee initially declared eight minutes of added time, then increased it due to medical interruptions and substitutions. However, when the free kick was awarded, the scoreboard already showed the 98th minute, and it was at that moment the controversial disallowed goal occurred.
The coach noted that such situations raise questions about the consistency of refereeing decisions. He emphasized that if more time needs to be added, the referee should do so to ensure equal conditions for both teams. According to López, this time the referee’s actions were particularly controversial.
The coach also commented on Sangalli’s sending-off, stating that the player’s reaction did not warrant such a harsh punishment. In his view, in similar situations a yellow card is enough to calm things down on the pitch.
This match has sparked discussion among fans and experts, and the referee’s decision is likely to be debated in football circles for some time.
