Real Madrid Star's Wife Slams Barcelona VAR Decision After Controversial Win

Saturday proved to be a disappointing day for Real Madrid, as they fell further behind Barcelona in the 2025-26 La Liga title chase. Álvaro Arbeloa's team suffered a 2-1 defeat to Mallorca, then witnessed their El Clásico rivals stage a comeback victory against Atlético Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

With this result, Barcelona now holds a seven-point lead over Real Madrid. However, their win against Atleti was not without controversy. The hosts, Atlético Madrid, saw Nico González sent off in first-half stoppage time. Minutes into the second half, Hansi Flick's Barcelona side also had a red card brandished, this time for defender Gerard Martín.

Martín was initially shown a red card for what was deemed serious foul play following a challenge on Thiago Almada. However, a subsequent VAR review downgraded the decision to a yellow card. This reversal sparked outrage not only among Atlético Madrid's camp but also from Mina Bonino, the wife of Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde. According to MD, Bonino voiced her frustration on social media, posting a close-up image of Martín's studs on Almada's ankle with the caption, "You have to close the stadium if that’s not a red card." She later deleted the post.

Controversy Surrounds VAR Decision

The decision to call for a VAR review on Martín's red card surprised many, as the initial call by referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer did not seem to be a "clear and obvious error." The incident's timing, with the match delicately poised at 1-1, further fueled the controversy, although the decision is now final.

Meanwhile, Valverde was suspended for Real Madrid's loss to Mallorca but is set to return to action when the team hosts Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.