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After suffering defeat at the hands of bitter rivals Real Madrid, Barcelona's Joan Laporta has asked for the match to be replayed
Barcelona President Joan Laporta has ignited a storm of controversy by demanding a replay of the recent El Clasico clash against Real Madrid.
His call for a rematch comes in the wake of a contentious goal-line incident that went against Barcelona in their 3-2 defeat.
Demand for Documentation
Laporta wasted no time in taking action, requesting immediate access to the referee's report, as well as audio and visual recordings from the VAR room. He firmly believes that there was a clear error in judgment regarding Lamine Yamal's disallowed goal.
"We will immediately request the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) and the RFEF to provide us with all the images and audio generated by the play. If there was an error in the assessment of the play, which is what we think, we will implement the appropriate measures necessary to reverse the situation," Laporta stated.
Threat of Legal Action
In a bold move, Laporta issued a statement via Barcelona's official social media channels, declaring that if evidence of a refereeing mistake emerges, the club will pursue legal avenues to secure a replay of the match.
"If it is confirmed that it was a legal goal as we think, we will go further and ask for a replay of the match just as happened in another European match due to a VAR error," Laporta asserted.
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07:30 - 22.04.2024
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Barcelona had a goal controversially disallowed in the first half, and the manager erupted over perceived refereeing injustices throughout the match.
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22:44 - 21.04.2024
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The Barcelona President didn't mince words when criticizing the use of VAR, asserting that it should serve to rectify errors and ensure fair competition. However, Laporta argued that instead of achieving its intended purpose, VAR has led to more confusion and inconsistent decisions.
"There are tools like VAR that should help to have a fairer competition and not the other way around! I have never been one of the great defenders of VAR because it takes away spontaneity from the game," Laporta remarked.
Laporta pointed to a recent European match between Genk and Anderlecht, which is set to be replayed due to a VAR error, as a precedent for his demand. He stressed that such errors have contributed to the significant point gap between Barcelona and Real Madrid in the league standings.
"As president of Barca, I want to convey the dissatisfaction caused by the fact that...a tool such as VAR is setting our agenda," Laporta expressed.
A Call for Fairness
While acknowledging the difficulty of refereeing, Laporta emphasized the need for transparency and fairness in officiating. He urged for a thorough review of the disputed incident to uphold the integrity of the competition.
"The club’s position is not gratuitous or advantageous but rather an action that is forced upon us by the indefensible situation we are experiencing," Laporta stated.
As the debate rages on, Barcelona finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with the aftermath of a contentious decision that has far-reaching implications for the club's season and its pursuit of success in the future.
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