Refereeing controversy overshadowed the match between Real Betis Balompié and Real Madrid last Friday, September 4. A fan has gone viral on social media platform X highlighting two incidents where no yellow cards were shown.
The match, corresponding to Matchday 4 of the 2026-27 LaLiga season, featured these two contentious moments. In the first half, England's Jude Bellingham was hit from behind with a challenge that the referee did not call as a foul. No card was shown for that incident either. Earlier, in the 10th minute, Betis player Chucho Hernández stepped on 27-year-old Colombian midfielder Federico Valverde, with this infringement also going unpunished by a booking.
What did social media show?
The fan account that shared the video compared the refereeing treatment to that in Real Madrid's previous match. "In Real Madrid’s previous match, specifically the Aug." the user said. That foul was deemed less significant than the one on Bellingham at the Benito Villamarín.
The same fan added the second incident: "Additionally, in the 10th minute, Real Betis player Chucho Hernández also stepped on Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, and the 27-year-old Colombian was not booked either." These posts sparked a broad debate among fans of both clubs regarding the consistency of officiating standards.
What is Betis's current context?
Real Betis faces this controversy while sitting in a commendable third place in LaLiga. Manuel Pellegrini's team has 9 points from a record of 3 wins, 0 draws, and 1 loss in their first four games, with a recent form reading WLWW. For goals, the Verdiblancos have scored 5 and conceded 5, leaving them with a zero goal difference.
However, the squad reaches this point in the season with several important players on the treatment table. Currently sidelined are Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Aitor Ruibal, Diego Conde, Diego Llorente, and Giovani Lo Celso. This situation leaves the coaching staff with fewer options for rotation and preparing for upcoming matches, a detail that can be tracked on our injuries page.
What's next for the team?
Following this match, focus shifts to the next fixture. Real Betis will travel on Monday, September 14, to face Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica. The 'Yellow Submarine' currently occupies 15th place in the table, making this clash an opportunity to pick up points away from home. The full season schedule is available on our fixtures page.
The third spot in the standings is a strong starting point, but the schedule is about to get tougher. Maintaining this pace will require maximum output from a squad already missing key figures. The match against Villarreal will be the next test for a Betis side aiming to consolidate its position in the upper reaches of the table.
