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Spain midfielder Rodri has voiced strong criticism of the officiating during La Roja’s World Cup semi-final victory against France, arguing that teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal was not given sufficient protection by the referee. Although Spain booked their place in the final, the Manchester City star expressed disappointment at the rough challenges directed at the Barcelona youngster.

Rodri’s frustration over referee’s decisions in win against France

Spain’s 2-0 triumph over France secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup final, yet captain Rodri remained unsatisfied with how Yamal was treated on the pitch. He specifically called out referee Ivan Barton, suggesting that the Salvadoran official allowed French defenders to repeatedly target the 19-year-old without adequate punishment during the match in Texas.

Rodri’s '15 fouls' allegation

The Spanish captain insisted that the official foul count did not accurately reflect what happened on the field, arguing that numerous uncalled challenges went unnoticed and unchecked.

“It’s clear that we’ve been facing this problem of excessive fouls for three matches now,” Rodri said after the game. “I understand that not every challenge is a foul, but we’re talking about 10 or 15 times when the boy goes down, gets tackled, and the referee must call it, because if not, the defenders will just keep doing it. The leniency today was really obvious.”

According to match statistics, Yamal was officially awarded just one foul throughout the encounter. That single incident resulted in a 22nd-minute penalty, which Mikel Oyarzabal converted to give Spain the lead. Ironically, the decision angered France head coach Didier Deschamps, who also expressed concerns over Barton’s officiating.

Rodri’s praise for the ‘sensational’ Yamal

Despite the controversy surrounding the refereeing, Rodri was quick to commend Yamal’s performance. The winger, who turned 19 just a day before the semi-final, played a key tactical role in helping Spain contain Kylian Mbappe and the French attack. Although Yamal has scored only once in the tournament, his relentless effort and maturity have earned admiration from his teammates.

Speaking to TVE, Rodri applauded the youngster’s composure and defensive contribution, remarking, “Lamine Yamal played a fantastic game, especially off the ball he was sensational and helped us a lot.”

Spain’s focus now turns to the final

With a place in the grand finale secured, Rodri has already turned his attention to what he describes as the highlight of his career. Whether Spain face Argentina or England, the midfielder knows that the intensity will be even higher, making his call for fair officiating even more important.

“Very happy, very proud, especially of my team, my country, and what this means for us. We need to rest and recover well because we have the most important match of our lives ahead of us. Rest and a huge match,” he concluded.