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'Those who decide don't understand' – Arbeloa fumes at officials after Betis' late equaliser

11h29 CEST

25/04/2026

Alvaro Arbeloa vented his frustration at LaLiga officials once again, believing Hector Bellerin's equaliser for Real Betis against Real Madrid should have been disallowed. 

Arbeloa watched on as his team conceded late at Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla, with Bellerin picking out the bottom-right corner to snatch a point in a 1-1 draw on Friday. 

Madrid had led through Vinicius Junior in the 17th minute, but were left to rue a glut of missed opportunities as their fading LaLiga title hopes took yet another serious blow. 

Los Blancos have now conceded at least one goal in their last 10 LaLiga matches (13 goals), their worst run without keeping a clean sheet in a single season in the competition since 2004 under Carlos Queiroz (20 matches, 36 goals). 

However, Arbeloa felt the goal should have been chalked off after Antony appeared to drag Ferland Mendy to the ground, with the Brazilian seeing his cross into the area cleared only as far as Bellerin, who flashed the ball past Andrii Lunin. 

"For me, it's very clear. It doesn't take much in situations like this, where you use your body, you destabilise yourself a bit," Arbeloa said on Betis' equaliser. 

"But for that you have to understand a bit of football. And we have a problem because those who decide, don't understand.

"A disappointment, like many other times. A very clear penalty in the first half with which we could have closed the game."

Arbeloa added that Madrid should have also been awarded a penalty kick, after Brahim Díaz's shot was blocked by Ricardo Rodríguez's hand at close range.

"It's a clear penalty, with the arm out," Arbeloa said. "There isn't much else to see, it's very clear. They're decisions that affect the game a lot."

It's a result that could see Madrid fall 11 points behind Clasico rivals and league leaders Barcelona, should they beat Getafe on Saturday. 

Madrid's misery was compounded nine minutes from time when Gonzalo Garcia was forced to replace top scorer Kylian Mbappe, who felt discomfort in his hamstring. 

"I have no idea [what's wrong with Mbappe]," Arbeloa on the Madrid number 10. "He felt some discomfort. We'll see how he evolves over the next few days."

Madrid have now won just one of their last six matches in all competitions (D2 L3), with reports suggesting Arbeloa's time at the helm is coming to an end. 

Recent speculation has seen Jose Mourinho linked with a sensational return to the club he managed between 2010 and 2013, where he won three major titles. 

While Arbeloa remained focused on Madrid's final five LaLiga matches, which includes a mouth-watering clash with Barcelona on May 10, the Spaniard conceded that bad luck had contributed to his team's poor run of form. 

"When games are so tight, these things can happen," Arbeloa said. "And we didn't have a lot of luck."

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