Barcelona drop a savage and hilarious reply after the Spanish Referee’s Committee finally admits the VAR blunder on Girona’s winning goal.
Hansi Flick’s league leaders suffered a gut-wrenching 2-1 loss at Montilivi on February 16, surrendering top spot temporarily after Fran Beltrán’s 86th-minute winner.
Culers cried foul from the start, pointing to a blatant infraction in the buildup that VAR inexplicably ignored, sparking widespread outrage.
The bombshell dropped when Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) admitted on their ‘Tiempo de Revisión’ show that VAR erred catastrophically—an “obvious, clear, and manifest” mistake.
Girona’s Claudio Echeverri recklessly stamped on Jules Koundé’s foot during the sequence leading to Beltrán’s goal, yet referee César Soto Grado and VAR official David Gálvez Rascón waved it on.
The CTA panel of 15 ex-referees unanimously ruled it a foul, warranting a yellow card and goal disallowance, suspending Gálvez indefinitely.
After the RFEF clarified that the goal was an error, the club’s official account posted: “Owning a mistake is a big step. Avoiding it is the next.”
Raphinha fumed online: “We play against everyone to win,” while Flick bit his tongue post-match, focusing on defensive lapses.
The blunder cost Barca crucial points, though wins over Levante and Madrid’s Osasuna slip reclaimed the summit.
This isn’t isolated: Barca’s third VAR controversy this season amplifies calls for reform.
The CTA stressed VAR must intervene on reckless play disrupting defense, yet three minutes of review failed.
Girona boss Míchel defended amid backlash, but facts back Barca’s ire.
La Liga’s VAR woes persist, eroding trust. Barcelona’s cheeky response demands change ahead of El Clásico, ensuring accountability.
Flick’s men march on atop the table, but the sting lingers—proof perfection isn’t required to win leagues, but fairness is.
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