The Referee and Officials of the match between Barcelona vs Real Sociedad faces MASSIVE ban after controversial Officiating Yesterday
Barcelona’s impressive unbeaten streak came to an abrupt end on Sunday when they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Real Sociedad in Donostia-San Sebastian, marking their first loss in a dozen matches. The setback has significant implications for the La Liga title race, as the Catalan club’s advantage at the top has now been trimmed to just a single point following Real Madrid’s victory the previous day.
According to reports from Marca, manager Hansi Flick addressed the disappointing result in his post-match comments. While he expressed satisfaction with many aspects of his team’s display, he was critical of the defensive lapses that proved costly.
“I can’t say I’m happy with this outcome. The truth is I’m disappointed because we created numerous clear-cut opportunities and the final scoreline doesn’t accurately represent what unfolded on the pitch. However, I do appreciate the way we approached the game and executed our style of play. The problem was we committed defensive mistakes that we simply cannot afford to make—we need to be much more solid at the back. Unfortunately, we also lacked the necessary fortune in the attacking third to capitalize on our chances. This is the reality we must accept and move forward from. Our immediate focus must shift to the next fixture, which carries enormous importance. With matches coming every three days, we’re constantly facing crucial encounters. Today, luck simply wasn’t on our side.
“From an overall perspective, our performance was good. There were certainly a couple of defensive situations where we could have handled things better, but when I look at the broader picture, I’m reasonably satisfied with what the team produced. Over the past two weeks, we’ve displayed some excellent football, and it’s vital that we maintain that standard and consistency. We can’t afford to waste time dwelling on refereeing decisions. Our energy and attention need to be directed toward the elements within our control that we can actually improve.”
Flick also addressed comments made by midfielder Frenkie de Jong regarding the officiating and communication with the referee.
“That’s exactly what he expressed, and I find myself in complete agreement with his assessment. I have no intention of devoting time or mental energy to dissecting refereeing controversies. I’m not particularly disappointed with the referee’s performance—everyone who watched the match has formed their own opinion on what transpired. I refuse to waste precious energy on matters outside our influence. Our concentration must remain firmly on ourselves and what we can control. The simple fact is we should have converted more of our goal-scoring opportunities—we had the chances to put the game to bed. Unfortunately, we’re returning home empty-handed without any points to show for our efforts.
“Interestingly, even before kickoff, I had already encountered various comments and discussions about the referee assigned to this match. My policy has always been to speak respectfully about match officials and their difficult job. But Frenkie’s observations are valid, and he expressed them in a composed, measured manner. As captain, he carries that responsibility and authority on the pitch. He genuinely wanted to engage in dialogue with the referee but found himself unable to do so. I can relate to that frustration—there are times when I want to communicate with the fourth official and face similar barriers, and you simply have to accept those limitations. I can’t definitively say whether there’s a general communication problem with referees throughout Spanish football, but what I can confirm is that with Gil Manzano specifically, there was a noticeable breakdown in communication during this particular match.”
