In a Copa del Rey semifinal match held on March 3, 2026, FC Barcelona faced Atlético Madrid and suffered a 2-0 defeat that was marred by a controversial handball incident. The situation arose when Atlético goalkeeper Juan Musso kicked the ball to defender Marc Pubill, who then touched it with his hand while attempting to return it. Barcelona players protested for a penalty, but the referee ruled that the ball was still in the 'positioning' phase and not yet live, leading to frustration among Barcelona fans and officials. This incident has sparked a debate about the need for clearer officiating standards in football, as similar situations have been ruled differently in the past. Critics argue that the current reliance on referees' interpretations of 'the spirit of the game' leads to inconsistency. A proposed solution includes introducing a referee signal to indicate when the ball is officially in play, which would help both teams understand the status of the game and reduce ambiguity in such critical moments.