Barcelona President Joan Laporta Unleashes Explosive Attack on Referees, Calls Decisions 'Inexplicable'
Joan Laporta disclosed that Barcelona had already lodged complaints with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) regarding match officiating, prior to a confirmed error that led to their surprising loss against Girona last weekend.
The refereeing panel acknowledged an uncalled foul on Jules Kounde immediately before Girona netted their decisive 86th-minute goal. Despite video assistant referee (VAR) review, the goal was permitted to stand. The VAR official involved has subsequently been suspended.
However, this incident wasn't the final trigger for Barcelona's frustration, as Laporta stated that "patterns" he characterized as "baffling" and "hard to justify" had already been observed.
"The club has submitted correspondence to the federation, which supervises the Technical Committee of Referees. It's a thoroughly reasoned document, seeking to be constructive with undeniable evidence... and this was prior to the foul on Kounde," the president stated during a public appearance at a re-election gathering, coincidentally held in Girona.
"We Barcelona supporters take pride in Girona; those of us from Barcelona also carry a piece of Girona within us. Indeed, I celebrate their successes, provided they don't come at our expense. However, the foul was obvious, and concerning the penalty [missed] by Lamine [Yamal], if there's a VAR system designed to catch irregularities, it should notice when two players enter the box early [requiring a retake]."
Laporta continued by stating there's no benefit in dwelling on past grievances against the club, instead advocating for using their platform to "enhance" future standards.
"Regardless, what's occurring is that we cannot simply focus on grievances; that's not befitting a club of Barcelona's caliber. We must be transparent, voice our concerns to appropriate authorities, and work to improve this situation," he stated.
"However, we're beginning to observe patterns that are puzzling, that defy explanation. There are specific referees, and it's consistent, a recurring problem, that when they oversee our matches, they create significant difficulties for us, and that's the truth. You could identify them all, and it's occurred repeatedly, with identical situations. They've even made opposite calls compared to what they've ruled against us, to our disadvantage. That's clear."
Barcelona, Real Madrid Share Similar Views on Spanish Referees
Barcelona, Real Madrid Share Similar Views on Spanish Referees
Laporta seemed to suggest preferential treatment of Real Madrid by officials: "It's accurate that during our difficult periods, they attempt to overwhelm us. And when the others face challenges, they receive assistance; they've mastered swimming and they plunge right in."
Paradoxically, Real Madrid has been engaged in their own prolonged dispute with Spanish referees, officially protesting to RFEF and Spain's High Council for Sports in February 2025 following a loss to Espanyol. Los Blancos alleged prejudice against them, with the controversial letter claiming: "Decisions against Real Madrid have reached a degree of manipulation and corruption of the competition that can no longer be overlooked."
La Liga president Javier Tebas responded decisively at the time: "Football doesn't center around Real Madrid," accusing the club of "losing" its composure. Just three months later, the club's infamous internal media division launched a savage assault on referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea after his appointment to officiate the Copa del Rey final.
What's the Impact of the Mistake That Cost Barcelona?
What's the Impact of the Mistake That Cost Barcelona?
Barcelona forfeited one, or possibly three points had they secured a late victory themselves, against Girona. The Catalans now sit two points behind Real Madrid in the current La Liga table and, should they lose the championship by such a slim margin, focus will return to this moment.
Whether the club would pursue legal proceedings or formal dispute in that circumstance remains uncertain but wouldn't be surprising.
There are still 14 fixtures remaining for each team and both will certainly drop additional points in what's left of this unpredictable season that has witnessed the lead change hands multiple times.
But a verified officiating error that directly cost Barcelona at least one point is more concrete than merely a perceived injustice. It also provides the club with external blame rather than themselves should future poor performances result from their own deficiencies.