'Straight up robbery!' - Barcelona fans rage at 'disgraceful' VAR call that sees Robert Lewandowski goal vs Real Sociedad ruled out as his foot is mistaken for Nayef Aguerd's in bizarre tech error

Lewandowski opened the scoring for Barcelona before the 15th minute of their crucial clash against Real Sociedad at the Anoeta, however, his goal was checked by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for offside as he received the ball from Frenkie de Jong. While replays showed that the in-form Polish striker was behind defender Nayef Aguerd, the goal was ruled out by VAR after the newly initiated semi-automated offside system mistook the defender's foot for Lewandowski's. Barcelona fans were understandably enraged by the decision, with some even going so far as to call it a 'robbery'.

X user @BitrusMahanan said: "VAR edited the image to put Lewandowski's foot ahead. It's disgraceful and a shame."

Barcelona fan @_MarsAeternum said: "This is STRAIGHT UP ROBBERY against Lewandowski. How suddenly the tip of his foot is in front and why we dont see the green of his foot in the real life image? Thieves!"

@TheEuropeanLad wrote: "I'm sorry but take a close look at the leg and foot of Robert Lewandowski in the first pic (the REAL pic), and then take a look at the second pic released by VAR. How is Lewandowski's foot suddenly SO FAR OUT?"

@FutballJan10 said: "The defender's big toe was simply assessed by VAR as Lewandowski's toe..This kind of thing only happens in La Liga and only against Barca."

@MagicofBarca wrote: "They literally switched Lewa’s whole hand and foot with the Sociedad defender’s hand. How are we supposed to compete in this shit f*ckin league when they’re rigging automatic offsides now?"

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick was seen confronting referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez over the decision to disallow Lewandowski's goal, with Sociedad taking the lead in the game through Sheraldo Becker a short while after the controversial incident. In turn, the Spanish referee seemed to suggest to the German that he had not seen the images as VAR was responsible for the call made and not him.

The Catalan side cannot challenge the ruling made by VAR and they will simply have to move forward and focus on their next clash against Celta Vigo after the international break as they will look to keep the gap between themselves and second-placed Real Madrid as wide as possible.