Alpha News

Barcelona Outraged with Refereeing in Loss to Real Sociedad

Published January 19, 2026, 08:26

Barcelona lost 2-1 to Real Sociedad at 'Anoeta' in a match filled with controversial refereeing decisions. The 'Blaugrana' protested five goalposts, three disallowed goals, and a penalty that was not awarded, with captain Frenkie de Jong expressing strong dissatisfaction with the referee's behavior. De Jong claimed he was not allowed to speak to the referee and was treated with arrogance. Coach Hansi Flick agreed with his captain, pointing out that the refereeing was similar to what they faced last year at the same stadium. Despite the bad luck and defensive errors, Flick said he was satisfied with the team's performance but stressed the need to learn from their mistakes.