Barcelona Issues Official Statement Protesting Spanish Refereeing

In an official statement released by the club today, Saturday, Barcelona announced it has sent a formal letter to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The letter, addressed to the President of the Federation, the Head of the Referees Committee, the Head of the VAR system, and the Legal Director, expresses deep concern over a series of repeated refereeing decisions that the club deems detrimental to the game and lacking consistent standards.

In the document sent to the RFEF, Barcelona outlined a set of key points, as follows:

1. Lack of Consistency in Disciplinary Standards: FC Barcelona condemned the disparate decisions made regarding incidents of a similar nature, particularly concerning disciplinary sanctions. The club asserts that this disparity creates an impression of double standards, which contradicts the principles of justice, equality, and legal certainty that should govern competitions.

2. Contradictory Hand-ball Criteria: The club highlighted a clear discrepancy in the interpretation of handball situations within the penalty area, even in matches officiated by the same referees. Barcelona believes that this lack of consistency in application fosters a sense of randomness and unpredictability in how rules are applied.

3. Accumulation of Influential Errors: Beyond isolated incidents, FC Barcelona pointed to the recurrence of egregious refereeing errors throughout the season, many of which were crucial and harmed the team's interests. The club emphasizes that this accumulation directly impacts the integrity of the competition and fuels a growing state of distrust.

4. VAR Usage and Transparency: The club expressed legitimate doubts regarding the proper use and application of VAR technology, especially in highly precise decisions determined by centimeter margins, without providing decisive and clear technical explanations. It also condemned the lack of transparency in managing and publishing VAR audio recordings.

5. Criteria for On-Field Review Screen: FC Barcelona questioned the absence of clear and consistent criteria for when referees are called to review incidents via the pitch-side monitor. The club considers this contributes to a sense of insecurity and inequality in decision-making.

The club affirmed that this initiative is not aimed at questioning the professionalism of the refereeing body but rather at demanding an urgent review of the adopted criteria to ensure consistency in refereeing decisions, equality in treatment among clubs, and the preservation of the credibility and prestige of competitions.

FC Barcelona also demanded the publication of full VAR audio recordings for all cases, whether an on-field review was conducted or not, considering this an essential measure to enhance transparency and contribute to the development of refereeing work.

Concluding its statement, the club proposed the creation of a specific disciplinary code or system for the refereeing body, stipulating clear and public consequences for serious errors or negligence, with the aim of fostering trust in the refereeing system.

Barcelona affirmed that this proposal is not solely in defense of its own interests but is part of a broader commitment to contribute to the proper conduct of competitions for the benefit of all clubs, by preventing the recurrence of such incidents and ensuring a clear, stable, and fair framework for everyone.

FC Barcelona also stressed the necessity of addressing its demands with the utmost seriousness and taking concrete measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.