Barcelona, Spain – In a recent statement, Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick voiced strong support for the referees operating in Spain, expressing concern regarding the treatment they have been receiving amidst ongoing scrutiny and criticism. Flick’s remarks came after a significant incident involving Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, who was issued a red card for allegedly cursing at referee José Luis Munuera.
Speaking to the media, Flick emphasized how “unbelievable” the situation has become for the referees working in Spain. Although he didn’t directly refer to Munuera, the referee has been the center of discussions following Bellingham’s red card last weekend. Munuera has publicly denounced claims made by local outlets suggesting he had improper affiliations with officials in the Spanish league. These allegations arose after he was temporarily sidelined by the Spanish soccer federation. Munuera firmly rejected these reports, insisting that he has never received payment from any sports club or federation for his motivational talks on sportsmanship. Following an investigation, the federation cleared Munuera of any potential conflicts of interest, which could enable him to resume officiating matches.
The controversy surrounding Munuera has drawn critical responses from Real Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti and from Bellingham himself, who suggested that the referee misunderstood his use of an English expletive during the game. After playing with ten men, Real Madrid drew against Osasuna, costing them the league lead to Barcelona. The federation defended Munuera, issuing a statement that condemned the online harassment directed at him after the incident concerning Bellingham.
Madrid had previously lodged a complaint with the federation, arguing that the record 36-time champions were consistently disadvantaged by referee decisions. They claimed that “decisions against Real Madrid have reached a point that the adulteration and manipulation of the competition cannot be ignored.” In response, the federation launched a campaign to promote better treatment of referees, featuring signs stating “Respect the referee, respect soccer,” which will be displayed in stadiums during upcoming matches.
During his pre-match press conference ahead of Barcelona’s game against Las Palmas on Saturday, Flick discussed the immense pressure that referees face. His comments were made independently, without prompting from the media. He emphasized the need for trust in referees and asserted that the federation should demonstrate its strength in support of them. “They are human, and it is normal to make mistakes; coaches and players do too, and we need to ensure their welfare,” Flick said.
Flick himself has experienced the consequences of refereeing decisions firsthand, having been sent off for disputing a penalty during a match against Real Betis in December. Reflecting on the common tendency to blame referees after losses, he stated, “Everyone makes mistakes, including myself, but we have to ensure referees are protected because the game cannot function without them.”
On the field, Barcelona will be looking to rebound after an unusual defeat to Las Palmas at home last November.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid will face Girona on Sunday without the suspended Bellingham, hoping to break a streak of three consecutive league matches without a win. They currently sit second in the standings, trailing Barcelona on goal difference. However, they will still have star forward Kylian Mbappé available, fresh off a hat trick that helped knock Manchester City out of the Champions League knockout rounds.
