Barcelona dominated Real Betis in the Copa del Rey, storming to a 5-1 victory that sent fans home smiling. Jules Kounde, who stepped into the spotlight with a first-half goal, looked set to double his tally in the 51st minute. The ball nestled in the net, the crowd roared, and the scoreboard flickered in anticipation. Then came the dreaded VAR check, and everything changed.
A toe’s length from another goal
Officials studied the replay and declared Kounde offside. The margin was so thin that it sparked debate about the precision of modern technology and whether such minuscule calls align with the spirit of the game. Kounde took it in good humor on social media, posting, “Adidas, we might need to change the shape of my preds!” His mischievous suggestion set off a wave of reactions from fans who joked that he should size down. Some claimed that even a quarter inch would’ve kept him onside.
Footballers suffer offside calls every day, but the unique twist here was how Kounde chose to respond. He didn’t blast officials or fume about lost glory. Instead, he deflected frustration with a lighthearted remark that made headlines. A defender by trade, he’s not someone you’d expect to see chasing personal scoring records. That’s partly why being denied a second goal hurt a little more, even if the team still won comfortably.
Kounde’s evening still remained a personal triumph. He’d already found the net, and the fans applauded his efforts on both ends of the pitch. It’s a testament to how quickly he’s adapted since moving to the club, shifting between center-back and right-back with poise. The French international continues to make his case as one of the league’s finest, all while injecting humor into one of the sport’s most contentious rules.
