The 2025 Club World Cup kicked off in explosive fashion as Boca Juniors and Benfica battled to a gripping 2-2 draw at Hard Rock Stadium.
However, the spotlight quickly shifted from the goals to a late first-half penalty call that left fans and players divided.
In the 44th minute, with both teams pressing hard, Ángel Di María sent in a dangerous corner aimed at Nicolás Otamendi.
The defender went down under pressure from Carlos Palacios, sparking an immediate VAR review.
Referee César Ramos consulted the footage and, to the surprise of many, pointed to the spot.
Di María calmly converted the penalty, putting Benfica ahead just before halftime.
The decision drew loud reactions in the stadium and has since dominated headlines.
Boca Juniors goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín voiced his disapproval after the final whistle.
“I don’t know what the referee saw,” he said. “I’ve known him for a long time, so it’s not surprising, but these things happen.
It felt like it wasn’t a penalty, but you have to move on. To have such a call in a match like this is shameful.”
His frustration echoed throughout the Boca fanbase, who believed the decision shifted momentum unfairly.
Manager Miguel Ángel Russo also questioned the call but acknowledged the complexity of officiating.
“From where I saw it, it wasn’t a penalty. We are dealing with Mexican referees I’ve been managed by them before in Saudi Arabia and know their style,” he said.
“The opponent is strong, and many factors come into play. Still, I don’t blame the referee entirely; we need to handle these situations better because conceding a late goal like that is tough.”
Even Boca’s scorers couldn’t hide their concerns.
Rodrigo Battaglia described the penalty as “a bit doubtful” but encouraged the team to stay focused.
Meanwhile, Miguel Merentiel, who was named player of the match, didn’t shy away from addressing the impact of the decision.
“That penalty moment changed the course of the match. From my perspective, it wasn’t a penalty, but the referee made the call, and we had to accept it,” he said.
The clash, which ended in a hard-fought draw, has renewed calls for VAR consistency in international tournaments.
While the technology was introduced to improve fairness, incidents like this prove that its implementation still needs major improvement.
Moreover, the game’s outcome may have been different if not for the penalty, sparking conversations on how these moments shape results and careers.
