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Barcelona Outraged with Refereeing After Defeat to Real Sociedad

Published January 19, 2026, 08:23
Barcelona Outraged with Refereeing After Defeat to Real Sociedad

Barcelona lost 2-1 to Real Sociedad at 'Anoeta' in a match filled with controversial refereeing decisions. Barcelona players, led by Frenkie de Jong and coach Hansi Flick, strongly protested the refereeing of Gil Manzano, arguing that mistakes were made against them, including the cancellation of three goals and a penalty. De Jong stated that the referee had an arrogant attitude and did not allow him to express his views, while Flick emphasized that the refereeing was similar to that which occurred last year at the same stadium, where a Lewandowski goal was disallowed. Despite his disappointment, the German coach called on the team to focus on the next match, acknowledging that the defeat did not reflect the image of the game and that the team had many opportunities to score.