Barcelona compile lists of refereeing decisions against them and in favour of Real Madrid in LaLiga

2022-23 LaLiga champions Barcelona have already been struck by refereeing paranoia, just four games into the new season. La Blaugrana have serious concerns over the way they have been treated by match officials in the opening rounds of the season, believing they have clearly been on the receiving end of a number of questionable calls, while Clásico rivals Real Madrid have been helped out by the men in the middle. To the surprise of absolutely nobody, Los Blancos feel the opposite is true...

AS has learned that Barça have put together two lists: the first containing refereeing “errors” which have gone against them in the first few weeks of the campaign, and the second documenting incidents in which they say Los Blancos have been favoured by officials.

Xavi and Barcelona unhappy with VAR use

Head coach Xavi Hernández has himself been critical in the media, revealing his concern about referees using VAR less and less. However, his concern has turned to outrage due to the fact that the technology, when it has been used, has done little to correct mistakes and provide fairness.

Barcelona’s “lists” contain four incidents in which they feel referees favoured Real Madrid, and another three in which they believe they were wronged.

Real Madrid “favoured” in four incidents

According to La Blaugrana, Athletic Club were denied a clear penalty against Madrid because of a perceived foul by Eder Militão, Jude Bellingham’s equalising goal against Almería should have been disallowed for handball, a goal for Celta Viga which was ruled out for a foul on Kepa should have stood, and there was an offside in the build-up to Joselu’s leveller against Getafe on Saturday.

Barcelona “penalties” not given

They also believe they were wrongly denied a penalty against Getafe (handball was given against Gavi) and should also have had two spot-kicks against Cádiz for fouls on Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski.

Barça’s main worry is that VAR intervened in all of these incidents and still got the decisions wrong, in their view. They also highlight the fact that the Spanish nreferees committee admitted that a mistake had been made by match official César Soto Grado in the Getafe vs Barcelona fixture, and that a penalty should indeed have been awarded. The clash in the south of Madrid ended goalless, the Catalans’ only dropped points of the season so far.

No formal complaint filed to RFEF

As things stand, the lists remain just that, with no formal complaint having been filed to the Spanish Soccer Federation (RFEF), who are in turmoil following the sexism scandal surrounding suspended president Luis Rubiales. Will they take things a step further if and when things settle back down? Let’s see what decisions go for and against them in the next few games....