Barcelona head coach Xavi refused to hold back, in taking aim at both the officials responsible for overseeing his side’s defeat to Real Madrid, and La Liga as a whole.
Barca, of course, were back in action late last night, making the trip to Spain’s capital for the latest edition of El Clásico.
When all was said and done, however, despite twice taking the lead on the night, Xavi and co. were ultimately forced to face up to the wrong side of a 3-2 result.
As much came after goals on the part of Vinícius Jr and Lucas Vázquez were followed by a Jude Bellingham dagger right at the death, to break the hearts of Barcelona fans the world over for the 2nd time in the space of a week.
Barca’s eventual downing, however, did not come without its controversies.
The first-half spot-kick awarded to Real Madrid was disputed by many, adamant that Lucas Vázquez initiated the contact before going to ground.
The real moment of contention on the night, though, came upon the visitors being denied what they felt was an evident goal.
After Lamine Yamal’s flick-on at the near post made its way towards the hosts’ goal, Andriy Lunin shoveled the ball out, culminating in a corner.
With no goal-line technology in Spanish football, it was in turn up to the VAR team to decipher whether or not Lamine’s effort had crossed the line.
In the end, after a lengthy review spanning several minutes, it was decided that a goal would not be awarded.
And, as alluded to above, when drawn on as much post-match, Barcelona headmaster Xavi simply refused to bite his tongue.
In a frankly remarkable rant which could yet land him in hot water with the Spanish football authorities, the 44-year-old began:
The referee didn’t get a single decision right.”
Turning focus towards La Liga’s shortcomings as a division, he continued:
“It’s embarrassing that La Liga doesn’t have goal-line technology.
“The league that we consider to be the best in the world does not have goal-line technology! Everyone saw it, the ball went in!
“It was unfair. It is very clear. Everyone saw it. My feeling today is one of maximum injustice.
“I repeat, it was a huge injustice today. Shameful.”
Xavi then doubled down on his criticism of referee César Soto, adding:
“Today the referee neither made the right decisions nor did it go unnoticed. It’s the only thing I asked for yesterday at the press conference.
“Since the beginning of the season in Getafe, I said that I do not like what is happening and that everything is hurting us, and today was the end of this story,” he concluded.
