Jon Mikel Aramburu could barely contain his fury after referee Alejandro Hernández Hernández awarded a maximum‑severity penalty at San Mamés, a call VAR failed to overturn. The defender insists the chip‑tracked replay proves he touched the ball, yet the official maintained it was a clean spot‑kick. “It’s unbelievable they blew the whistle on a clear touch,” he said, adding that even teammate Nico confirmed the contact. How could this happen?
Real struggled to cope with Athletic’s early pressure, finally finding rhythm after the first half. Unai Simón, according to Aramburu, showed why he earned his recent trophy, delivering a stellar performance despite missed chances. In my view, the referee’s mistake robbed Real of a fair fight. He praised the opponent and urged the squad to focus on next week’s match.
The squad remains angry, feeling the decision cost them dearly. Aramburu expects the referee to explain his call, but insists the team must now turn its attention to the upcoming fixture. Will they appeal the ruling before the next showdown?