Refereeing chaos in La Liga: illegal goals, phantom pen, VAR and red cards!

The match between Villarreal and Celta Vigo was meant to be a calm game, but the referee had other ideas and it led to a crazy first half. 

Santi Mina gave Celta Vigo the lead in the 19th minute, but there was a clear foul by Nolito in the build up as he grabbed a Villarreal player's leg. The VAR sent referee David Medie Jimenez over to the monitor, but the referee inexpicably decided to give the goal. 

Moi Gomez levelled for Villarreal and then, after 30 minutes, Celta Vigo were awarded a penalty when Villarreal GK Sergio Asenjo clashed heads with a Celta player as he went to clear a cross. Replays showed it was a head clash and, if anything, a foul by the Celta man, but the official gave a spot kick and the VAR remained quiet.

Santi Mina converted the spot kick to make it 0-2 and then, a few minutes later, Nestor Araujo was sent off for Celta Vigo for a foul when he clearly played the ball. He did not make contact with the Villarreal man although one of his boots was a bit high. The VAR called him over and he downgraded it to a yellow. 

In stoppage time, Medie Jimenez gave Celta Vigo a foul just outside the box, but the VAR buzzed in as the offence took place in the box. Brais Mendez scored the penalty and the Villarreal bench were fuming. Sub keeper Geronimo Rulli was sent off for protesting and he then came down from the stands to confront the official. 

After the half-time whistle was blown, Villarreal sub Mario Gaspar complained to Medie Jimenez and he also saw red. The hosts were still with 11 men but had seen two substitutes sent off. 

A mad first half which saw the referee make inexplicable decisions, get everything wrong and upset both sets of players. A disastrous refereeing performance all round.