It seems that no Barcelona match is complete without a referee lending a helping hand when things get tough for the Blaugrana.
This was the case once again in their match against Las Palmas. With the score tied at 0-0 in the first half, the referee decided to send off Las Palmas goalkeeper Álvaro Valles for a foul on Lamine Yamal outside the penalty area. While the goalkeeper’s challenge was certainly reckless, the decision to award a red card was questionable, to say the least.
The play started with a foul by Ilkay Gündogan in midfield. Before touching the ball, Gündogan caught a Las Palmas player on the leg, dispossessing him of the ball. This set in motion the sequence of events that led to the goalkeeper’s dismissal.
The referee, Mateo Busquets Ferrer, failed to spot the German midfielder’s foul before brandishing the red card at the Las Palmas goalkeeper.
The VAR, as expected, remained silent on the incident, not even prompting the referee to review the action on the monitor. The decision stood, despite its obvious flaws.
This is yet another example of the Negreira League, as some have labeled it, adding to its tally of mistakes and controversial decisions in favor of the usual suspects, the Blaugrana.
A pattern of favorable decisions
It’s no secret that Barcelona has a long history of benefiting from favorable refereeing decisions. This latest incident has only reinforced the perception that the playing field is not always level in La Liga.
While it’s impossible to say with certainty whether this is a deliberate attempt to help Barcelona win matches, the pattern of favorable decisions is undeniable. This raises serious questions about the integrity of the competition and the credibility of the referees.
Las Palmas fans will be understandably frustrated by this decision, which has undoubtedly cost their team a crucial point. They will be hoping that the authorities will take action to address the issue of refereeing bias and ensure that all teams are treated fairly.
In the wake of this incident, there is a growing demand for greater transparency from the refereeing authorities. Fans, clubs, and the media want to know how decisions are made and why certain teams seem to benefit from favorable calls more often than others.
Only by addressing these concerns can La Liga regain its credibility and ensure that the competition is truly fair and just for all.
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