Real Betis midfielder Pablo Fornals has addressed the fallout from his side’s 5-2 defeat to Barcelona, offering a strong response to the controversy surrounding Giovani Lo Celso’s disallowed goal while insisting that his team must now move forward.
The result was accompanied by debate over the officiating, particularly footage showing a conversation between the referee and several Barcelona players before the VAR review that ruled out Lo Celso’s goal.
Fornals revealed that he had challenged the referee at the time but believes continuing to discuss the incident will not change the outcome.
Fornals urges Betis to move on after Barcelona defeat
The midfielder acknowledged the importance of recovering mentally from such a heavy defeat but stressed that the football calendar leaves little opportunity for teams to dwell on disappointing results.
Speaking about the psychological impact of the loss, Fornals highlighted Betis’ immediate opportunity to respond in front of their own supporters.
Pablo Fornals has addressed refereeing controversy in Barcelona defeat. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)
“Whether we’re in good or bad form mentally, football doesn’t stop.
“We’re very fortunate to be playing every two or three days, and tomorrow we have another chance to put in a great performance in front of our fans,” he said.
Lo Celso goal controversy remains a talking point
Beyond the scoreline, the decision to disallow Lo Celso’s goal became a major talking point following Saturday’s encounter with Barcelona.
Footage of the referee speaking with several Barcelona players before the VAR review added another dimension to the debate.
Giovani Lo Celso’s goal was disallowed against Barcelona. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Fornals confirmed that he had attempted to explain his position to the official during the match, although he ultimately accepted that the decision rested with the referee and the VAR team.
“I spoke to the referee at the time. I suppose you’ll have seen that I tried to speak to him and give him the explanations I thought appropriate, but ultimately it’s up to him to decide.
“He has someone else advising him from the VAR and, for better or worse, there’s no point in us continuing to talk today about something that has happened and that we can no longer change,” he concluded.
Fornals’ response stopped short of prolonging the dispute, acknowledging that the opportunity to influence the decision had passed.
Source: Mundo Deportivo