The Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo" revealed audio recordings of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology from the Real Sociedad vs Barcelona match at the Anoeta Stadium, which witnessed controversial refereeing, with two direct interventions from the VAR official Carlos del Cerro Grande.

According to the newspaper, the first intervention came in the sixth minute when a goal by Fermín López was disallowed due to a prior foul by Dani Olmo on Kubo in the same attack. Del Cerro Grande asked the referee to review the footage on the screen, saying: "I recommend you review the clip due to a possible foul in the same attack."

While heading to the review screen, the recordings captured Gil Manzano saying: "Everyone sit down, sit down, I will tell you one thing, you must let me work, you must let the VAR and I work, under these circumstances, it is impossible to continue."

Upon watching the clip, Del Cerro Grande explained to the referee: "The change of possession occurred because the Barcelona player did not play the ball, but kicked the Real Sociedad player, and the entire clip is within the same attack."

Gil Manzano responded: "I thought the Barcelona player touched the ball, but he did not; rather, he hit Kubo's leg, so the foul is clear, and I will resume play with a neutral drop ball."

The second intervention was in the 85th minute after Carlos Soler fouled Pedri, a clip that Gil Manzano initially punished with a yellow card before Del Cerro Grande intervened saying: "I recommend you review the clip for the possibility of serious violent play, especially due to the point of contact and the twisting of the Barcelona player's ankle."

According to the recordings published by the newspaper, Gil Manzano replied: "Oh, exactly, this endangers the physical safety of the opponent, and I will show the red card for serious violent play."

The newspaper confirmed that the publication of these recordings reignited strong refereeing controversy amid widespread criticism surrounding the match management and decisions that affected its course.