Marc Bartra explains defensive positioning during penalty in Real Betis victory

Real Betis defender Marc Bartra addressed his positioning during a penalty kick taken by Kylian Mbappé in a 1-0 win over Real Madrid. Bartra faced scrutiny regarding potential area encroachment, but he clarified that his actions were informed by specific refereeing guidelines. After observing a similar play involving José Luis Gayà, the center-back consulted a former Segunda B referee to confirm the rules on penalty encroachment. He learned that a defender does not commit a foul as long as their feet do not touch the ground at the moment the ball is struck. By timing a small jump, Bartra ensured his defensive intervention remained within the laws of the game. This interpretation allowed the defender to clear the area without triggering a penalty retake as Real Betis secured the result against Real Madrid.

• 8:10 AMYahoo Sports — 😳 Bartra practised the leap for Mbappé's penalty: a referee told me...