Real Betis Balompié's La Liga match against Real Madrid was disrupted by repeated complaints about the match ball. Three ball changes within the opening ten minutes at La Cartuja stadium sparked constant protests from the visiting side.
What happened with the ball?
The first incident occurred inside the opening minute of play. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois complained to referee Hernández Hernández that the ball lacked proper air pressure. The official agreed to make the first change following the Belgian keeper's protest.
Later, after a foul by Héctor Bellerín on Vinicius Junior, Turkish midfielder Arda Güler picked up the ball to prepare a shot and echoed his teammate's complaint. "It has no air," Güler stated. After a brief discussion, the referee ordered another ball change.
How did the protests continue?
A throw-in after the seven-minute mark prompted another complaint about the ball's condition. On this occasion, defender Denzel Dumfries took matters into his own hands and changed the ball himself on the touchline without waiting for the referee's authorization. This third change completed an unusual sequence that affected the match's early rhythm.
The Verdiblancos approach this stage of the season sitting third in La Liga, with 9 points from three wins and one loss in their four matches. Their goal difference stands at zero, having scored five and conceded five. You can check the full table on our standings page.
What is Real Betis's current context?
The Andalusian squad faces several significant absences in their roster. Currently sidelined are Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Aitor Ruibal, Diego Conde, Diego Llorente and Giovani Lo Celso. This situation affects multiple areas of the team, and their recovery progress can be followed in the injuries section.
Real Betis Balompié's next fixture is an away trip to face Villarreal on September 14th. The Yellow Submarine occupies fifteenth place in the table, promising a challenging encounter in the quest for points. All schedule information is available at fixtures.
Manager José Mourinho, in charge of Real Madrid for that match, witnessed the interruptions firsthand. The first referee-mandated change started a chain of incidents that marked the game's development. Betis's next appointment against Villarreal comes on September 14th.
