Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has taken a strong stance against the treatment of referees in Spanish football, condemning the recent wave of criticism and threats directed at match officials. His impassioned defense comes in the wake of concerning incidents that have highlighted the mounting pressure on referees in LaLiga.
The situation reached a critical point this week when referee José Luis Munuera Montero revealed he was forced to remain indoors after receiving death threats. These threats followed his decision to send off Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham during a recent match. The incident has brought to light the severe consequences of what Flick describes as "unbelievable" treatment of officials in Spain.
"You have to think about their families," Flick emphasized during Friday's news conference. "Everyone of us makes mistakes, including me. It is the responsibility of the players and coaches to protect them." The Barcelona coach stressed the importance of trusting match officials, particularly in the era of VAR, rather than engaging in constant disputes over their decisions.
The controversy has deeper roots, stemming from Real Madrid's formal complaint to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and Spain's Sports Ministry regarding the standard of refereeing in LaLiga. Madrid's claim that officiating has "adulterated" the competition has contributed to weeks of intense scrutiny on match officials.
In response to the growing crisis, a commission has been established to explore reforms in LaLiga's refereeing system, currently overseen by Spain's technical committee of referees (CTA). Flick called on the RFEF to demonstrate leadership in protecting officials, stating, "They are human. We have to take care of them and protect them because we cannot play without referees."
The tension surrounding officiating in Spanish football has been building throughout the month. Real Madrid's initial complaints focused on decisions involving a foul on Kylian Mbappé, while Bellingham's subsequent dismissal and two-game ban for foul and abusive language has only intensified the hostile atmosphere.
As Barcelona prepares for their upcoming match against Las Palmas, where they aim to maintain their position at the top of the table, Flick's attention has also turned to their Champions League round of 16 draw against Benfica. Reflecting on their previous 5-4 victory over the Portuguese side, he acknowledged the challenge ahead: "It's a tough match because they are doing really good... At this stage, there are no opponents you can say it's easy."
The team will face these challenges with a nearly complete squad, as Andreas Christensen returns to training, leaving only Marc-André ter Stegen and Marc Bernal as long-term absentees.
