Joan Laporta, the controversial president of FC Barcelona, launched a devastating tirade against Spanish refereeing after his team suffered a shocking defeat to Girona. Laporta’s indignation is not new; he revealed that the club had already filed complaints with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) regarding officiating in their matches, even before a crucial error that contributed to the loss.
The situation became even more serious when the refereeing committee admitted that there was a foul on Jules Kounde just before Girona’s winning goal, scored in the 86th minute. Despite the incident being reviewed by VAR, the goal was validated, leading to the suspension of the assistant referee involved. However, this incident was just the tip of the iceberg, according to Laporta, who denounced “trends” that are “inexplicable” and “hard to explain.”
“The club sent a letter to the federation, which oversees the Technical Committee of Referees. It is a well-founded document, trying to be constructive with indisputable facts… and this was before the foul on Kounde,” Laporta stated, making remarks during a re-election event, ironically held in Girona. He expressed pride in Girona’s successes, as long as they are not against Barça, but emphasized that the foul committed was clear. Additionally, he mentioned a penalty not awarded in favor of Lamine Yamal, questioning the effectiveness of VAR.
Laporta emphasized that it is not enough to simply complain about unfavorable decisions; the goal should be to “improve” the standards of refereeing in the future. “We need to be clear, express our opinion to the relevant bodies, and try to improve this group,” he stated. “But we are starting to see trends that are inexplicable, and that is a reality. There are referees who, when they officiate our games, repeatedly harm us.”
The Barça president did not hesitate to point out the alleged difference in treatment between teams, insinuating that Real Madrid receives notable favoritism: “It is true that when we are going through a tough time, they try to crush us. And when others are in difficulties, they help them; they have learned to swim and dive in headfirst.”
Irony of fate, the [Real Madrid](https://apitofinal.pt/internacional/benfica-apresenta-queixa-contra-estrela-do-real-madrid-apos-duelo-da-liga-dos-campeoes/) also became embroiled in a dispute with Spanish referees, filing formal complaints with the RFEF and the High Council of Sports of Spain in February 2025, following a defeat to Espanyol. The Merengues alleged bias against them, with a shocking letter stating that “the decisions against [Real Madrid](https://apitofinal.pt/internacional/vinicius-jr-responde-a-alegacoes-raciais-com-apoio-do-governo-portugues/) have reached a level of manipulation and distortion of the competition that can no longer be ignored.” Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, responded emphatically, stating that “football does not revolve around [Real Madrid](https://apitofinal.pt/internacional/vinicius-explode-contra-mourinho-apos-comentarios-sobre-o-benfica-real-madrid/)”.
The defeat of Barcelona to Girona was not just a setback; it could have a significant impact on the title race in La Liga. With the Catalans now two points behind Real Madrid, the possibility of losing the championship by such a narrow margin could lead to even greater pressure on the RFEF. Uncertainty remains over whether the club will take any legal action in response to this issue, but Laporta’s indignation will surely resonate among fans, who are calling for justice and fairer officiating. The atmosphere in Spanish football is about to heat up, and the upcoming matches promise to be a battleground both on and off the field.
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