Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has voiced his frustration with the officiating following his team’s defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday.
Xavi, who was already upset with the referee’s decisions after the midweek defeat to PSG in the Champions League expressed his dissatisfaction once more with the events at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The match took a dramatic turn when Lamine Yamal’s goal for Barcelona was disallowed after VAR intervention, leaving the visitors aggrieved as Xavi was convinced the ball had crossed the line.
“It’s a disgrace,” Xavi said as quoted by BBC complaining that the goalline technology used in other top flights including the Premier League is not available in La Liga.
“If we want to be the best league in the world we have to advance in this sense, you have to put in the technology.”
ESPN Commentator 🗣️: “La Liga decided not to use the money to upgrade goal line technology, They would think to just rely on VAR”
“And this is the issue you would get, there is NO CONCLUSIVE ANGLE to say whether or not the ball crossed the line from this Lemine Yamal flick and… pic.twitter.com/NqprmT6Wvo
— Omifyyy (@omifyyy) April 22, 2024
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen echoed Xavi’s sentiments, describing the situation as “shameful for football” and emphasising the importance of implementing technology in such a highly-rated competition.
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Yamal’s goal would have been Barcelona’s second and put the game in a 2-1 lead against Real Madrid but the decision was overturned despite the unavailability of goal line technology.
Barcelona regained the lead in the second half through Fermin Lopez’s close-range finish, but once again, Real Madrid found an equaliser, with Lucas Vazquez nodding in a cross from Vinicius.
In the dying moments of stoppage time, Bellingham delivered the decisive blow for Real Madrid, smashing the ball into the roof of the net to seal a memorable victory.
Jude Bellingham scored against Barcelona once again as Real Madrid won El Clasico 3-2 🔥 #3SportsGH pic.twitter.com/rrvf0vHVbP
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) April 21, 2024
With Barcelona now trailing 11 points behind Real Madrid, their hopes of silverware have been narrowed having exited the Champions League and missed out on the Carabao Cup.