Barcelona president Joan Laporta has strongly criticized the refereeing decisions in his team’s recent 1-1 draw against Getafe in La Liga. Laporta, speaking after testifying in a separate fraud case, didn’t hold back his feelings about a key incident in the match.
“The refereeing in the game against Getafe was an absolute disgrace. Not giving a penalty for the foul on Kounde is a scandal,” Laporta stated, visibly frustrated.
The incident in question occurred in the 80th minute. Getafe’s Christantus Uche appeared to grab and bring down Barcelona defender Jules Kounde inside the penalty box. Despite the apparent foul, neither the on-field referee, Gonzalez Fuertes, nor the VAR (Video Assistant Referee), overseen by Hernandez Maeso, intervened to award a penalty to Barcelona.
The draw has significant implications for Barcelona’s La Liga title aspirations. The Catalan side has now lost ground to Real Madrid, who now lead the table after Barcelona’s slip-up and Atlético Madrid’s defeat. Real Madrid currently sits two points ahead of Atlético and seven points ahead of Barcelona, who are now level with Athletic and just outside the Champions League qualification zone.
This isn’t the first time refereeing decisions have been a source of controversy in La Liga, and Laporta’s strong reaction highlights the high stakes involved in the title race. The missed penalty call will undoubtedly be a point of contention among Barcelona fans and pundits alike, further fueling the debate about the use and effectiveness of VAR in football.