A strange and unprecedented moment unfolded during a recent La Liga match when the referee made an unusual gesture moments before pointing to the spot for a penalty. The incident left commentator Iturralde González and viewers utterly baffled, sparking widespread debate across social media and sports talk shows.
With the game tied deep in extra time, a controversial handball decision inside the box was already raising eyebrows. But it was the referee’s theatrical pause and awkward signal—almost as if he were questioning his own call—that truly stole the spotlight. Instead of a standard penalty signal, he appeared to mimic the shape of a box with his hands, then hesitated before finally blowing his whistle in a flurry of confusion.
“Iturralde himself was speechless, saying on air, ‘What is this? I’ve never seen anything like it,'” the broadcast commentator noted. “The referee’s body language suggests he wasn’t entirely convinced, yet he gave the penalty anyway.” The decision proved pivotal, as the converted spot kick changed the course of the match.
While VAR confirmed the handball, the odd pre-penalty routine has become the main talking point. Officiating experts have since weighed in, calling it a “lack of professionalism under pressure” and demanding clarity from the league’s refereeing committee. The moment will likely be remembered as much for its sheer weirdness as for its impact on the final score.
