Barcelona’s Xavi Calls Out Refereeing An Embarrassment After Getafe Draw

After his team started their championship defence with a dismal 0-0 draw at Getafe on Sunday, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez criticised the refereeing in LaLiga and claimed it was harming the league’s product.

Raphinha and Jaime Mata were both ejected from the game, and Xavi was also dismissed in the second half for remarks he made to the referees, meaning that both teams finished the tense match with 10 men.

Referee Cesar Soto was accused by Xavi of “inventing” a handball on Gavi in order to spare Barca from receiving a late penalty for a foul on Ronald Arajo. Xavi claimed that Soto had been too lenient with Getafe.

“It’s normal that people don’t want to watch football, this was barely a match,” Xavi said to reporters following the game at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez. “It’s embarrassing if this is the league’s product that we’re selling. Completely. This evening’s message is that. That has been observed by everybody. It must be mentioned that we shouldn’t remain silent.

“The referee permitted everything, dismissed me at the first opportunity, and created Gavi’s handball. The time wastage was deplorable. The time should have been stopped because this is absurd.

Early on, multiple instances that went unpunished infuriated Barca. These incidents included two body checks by Damián Suárez, which Xavi said led to the hostile environment that resulted in Raphinha’s expulsion for an elbow.

“Raphinha’s [red card] is the culmination of things,” the Barca manager continued. “The authorities permitted them certain things, but not us. They wasted time and stopped the action because that is how they play. It’s typical.

“The officials are in charge of this. It was too much for me. Raphinha messed up, but it was only because so many other things had happened that we lost our heads.

In the fifteen minutes of second-half stoppage time, there was further suspense when Soto examined the pitch side monitor for a potential penalty on Araujo but instead gave a handball against Gavi.

I don’t see any evidence of a handball, remarked Xavi. “there should not be whistled if there is not a blatant handball. At this week’s referee’s meeting, that is what they said to us.

“And after that, they accuse Gavi. They have created a handball, in my opinion. That is the situation.

Getafe manager Jose Bordalas claimed that Xavi’s remarks were made to minimise the loss of points his team suffered on the opening weekend of the LaLiga season.

In a press conference, Bordalas stated, “I don’t think Xavi is doing the league a favour saying these things.” “I believe his remarks serve as a justification for their inability to win the game with their current lineup.

He shouldn’t have blamed the officials, in my opinion. They didn’t, in my opinion, help us. More bookings came in, and Raphinha was responsible for the game’s most violent incident.

“It’s a disrespectful way of justifying losing points with the way the opposition played.”

Raphinha had earlier nearly given Barca the lead when his shot rebounded against the post, but the Brazilian was sent in the 42nd minute for elbowing Gaston lvarez.

Getafe’s numerical advantage did not last long when Mata was sent off for a late challenge on Araujo in the 57th minute after receiving a second booking.

Ansu Fati received a fantastic opportunity late on thanks to the Blaugrana’s all-out attack, but their winless streak at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez now stands at four games, including three straight 0-0 draws.

Xavi continued, “We tried in every manner, but we couldn’t score. “I believe we deserved the victory, but it was insufficient. It’s unfortunate.

“A point for us is not enough, but we had a very difficult time playing this game. We also came here the previous year, and look where we are now.