Barcelona Complains About Referee Decisions

FC Barcelona has officially written to the football leaders to share their worries about how games are being managed. The club feels that referee and VAR decisions have not been fair and have hurt their team. They are asking for changes to make things more equal.
By Newsroom | Football, Spain |

FC Barcelona has formally lodged a complaint with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), citing significant concerns over officiating and video assistant referee (VAR) decisions. The club’s statement, published February 14, outlines five key areas of contention, stemming from what they describe as a persistent accumulation of errors detrimental to their campaign. This action underscores a growing tension regarding the perceived lack of uniformity and transparency in refereeing within Spanish football.

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Formal Complaint Details Key Issues

FC Barcelona's official statement and subsequent reports detail a structured grievance. The core of the complaint focuses on several recurring problems observed throughout the season.

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  • Lack of Consistency in Disciplinary Criteria: The club denounces differing decisions for actions of a similar nature, particularly concerning disciplinary sanctions like yellow and red cards.

  • Criteria for On-Field Reviews via TV Monitor: Barcelona questions the absence of clear and consistent protocols when referees are directed to review incidents on the pitch-side monitor, contributing to a sense of unease.

  • Accumulation of Significant Errors: Beyond isolated incidents, Barcelona points to a pattern of repeated and apparent refereeing mistakes that have had decisive and negative impacts on the club.

  • Contradictory Criteria in Handball Decisions: Reports specifically mention an issue with inconsistent judgments regarding handball incidents.

  • VAR Malfunction and Transparency: A specific incident involving the semi-automated offside technology failing during a match, leading to manual line drawing and a disallowed goal, has intensified demands for transparency.

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The club is seeking not just explanations but also systemic changes, including the public release of all VAR audio and the establishment of a disciplinary code for referees with transparent consequences for serious errors.

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Examination of Specific Grievances

Barcelona's formal protest centers on a perceived pattern of officiating that they argue is harming competition fairness.

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Disciplinary Inconsistencies

The complaint highlights what FC Barcelona views as a lack of uniform application of rules. This includes differing responses to similar on-field infractions.

  • Reports cite a specific instance where Eric García's red card was contrasted with perceived leniency towards Atlético players, including challenges that, from Barcelona's perspective, warranted stricter sanctions.

  • The club questions why actions of an identical nature receive disparate disciplinary responses.

On-Field Review Protocol

A significant point of contention involves the criteria and consistency applied when referees are sent to the pitch-side monitor for reviews.

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  • Barcelona argues that the absence of clear and consistent criteria for these reviews creates uncertainty and inequality in decision-making.

  • The prolonged review of Pau Cubarsí’s disallowed goal, which lasted six minutes and 22 seconds without immediate audio publication, has been a focal point of this grievance.

Accumulation of Errors and VAR Scrutiny

The club's formal letter details an accumulation of what they consider blatant refereeing errors throughout the season. These errors are described as frequently decisive and to Barcelona's detriment.

  • The malfunction of the semi-automated offside technology, requiring manual intervention, has raised questions about the reliability and transparency of VAR processes.

  • Barcelona is actively requesting the full publication of all VAR audio, irrespective of whether an on-field review occurred, as a measure for transparency and referee development.

Club and Player Reactions

The formal complaint follows a period of visible frustration from Barcelona officials and players.

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  • Club officials, players, and staff reportedly left matches incensed by key decisions, viewing them as symptomatic of broader campaign issues.

  • Individuals such as Hansi Flick, Frenkie de Jong, and Eric García have publicly voiced their astonishment and displeasure with officiating and VAR outcomes.

  • The club's stance emphasizes a desire for urgent criteria overhauls for credibility and equal treatment, rather than an attack on individual professionalism.

Implications and Demands

Barcelona's formal complaint signifies a decisive step in addressing their officiating concerns. The club is pushing for accountability and systemic improvements.

  • They propose the creation of a specific disciplinary code for referees, which would establish public and transparent consequences for serious errors or negligence.

  • The ultimate aim is to reinforce confidence in the integrity of the competition.

  • The complaint aims to shift focus towards structural fixes, particularly with crucial league matches and a potential title defense on the horizon.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is Barcelona complaining about referees?
Barcelona believes there have been too many mistakes by referees and VAR that have negatively affected their games this season. They feel decisions have not been fair or the same each time.
Q: What specific problems does Barcelona mention?
They point to unfair calls, unclear reasons for VAR reviews, and mistakes that have cost them important points. They also mention issues with handball calls and VAR technology problems.
Q: What does Barcelona want to happen?
The club wants explanations for the decisions and asks for all VAR audio to be made public. They also want a clear set of rules and consequences for referees who make serious mistakes.
Q: Has Barcelona complained before?
Yes, the club has shown frustration with refereeing before, and this formal complaint shows they want bigger changes to ensure fair play.