‘Very difficult to win this league’ — Xavi's critical of LaLiga referees after Real Madrid controversy

Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez and Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior during EL Clasico | Imago

‘Very difficult to win this league’ — Xavi's critical of LaLiga referees after Real Madrid controversy

Ayoola Kelechi 23:58 - 21.01.2024

The Barcelona manager was critical of referees in LaLiga after Real Madrid were awarded a controversial goal in their win over Almeria

Barcelona’s Xavi has claimed that it would be almost impossible to win the current LaLiga, with rivals Real Madrid receiving favourable calls from referees after Los Blancos’ recent win over Almeria.

Real Madrid's VAR-Influenced Victory

In a 3-2 win against Almeria, Real Madrid benefited from three VAR calls, contributing to their eventual success. While Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti insisted that the decisions were correct, Xavi remains unconvinced.

Ancelotti claimed the decisions were correct as part of his post-match conference, providing a contrasting viewpoint to Xavi's scepticism.

Xavi's Scepticism and League Challenges

Xavi voiced concerns about La Liga referees, expressing his dissatisfaction with recent decisions affecting his team. This section delves into Xavi's scepticism and its potential consequences.

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Xavi expressed concern about the challenges of winning the league, citing specific incidents that, in his opinion, did not align with fair play.

Recalling past incidents, Xavi highlighted the Getafe penalty, an incident with Raphinha in Vallecas, and a disputed goal by Joao Felix in Granada as examples that may have cost Barcelona valuable points.

Xavi wants LaLiga referees to reflect

Xavi clarified that his comments were not intended as excuses but rather as reflections of the challenges and contentious situations his team has encountered during the season.

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez | Imago
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez | Imago

Xavi's outspoken remarks may pose a challenge for him, considering La Liga's rules of conduct. If deemed to be against the league's regulations, Xavi could face repercussions for his critical comments.

As Xavi raises concerns about the fairness of refereeing decisions in La Liga, the controversy surrounding VAR's influence continues to be a talking point in Spanish football. The contrasting opinions of managers add another layer of intrigue to the ongoing debate over the role of referees in shaping the outcomes of crucial matches.

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