The controversy surrounding refereeing decisions in La Liga shows no signs of abating, as evidenced by the latest contentious episode from matchday 24. Barcelona suffered a painful 2-1 defeat at home to Girona, a result overshadowed by a significant dispute over a pivotal moment in the game.

The match’s decisive goal, netted by Fran Beltrán to secure the victory for the visitors, originated from a sequence of play that many observers deemed illegitimate. The buildup involved an apparent foul by Girona‘s Iván Cólera on Barcelona‘s Jules Koundé, a challenge that went unpunished by the on-field officials. Despite the clear nature of the infraction, the Video Assistant Referee system did not intervene to review the incident, allowing the play to continue and the goal to stand.

Michel Sánchez’s Candid Post-Match Assessment

In the aftermath of the fixture, Girona coach Michel Sánchez offered a remarkably forthright analysis of both the result and the controversial incident. He emphasized the monumental importance of the three points for his team’s campaign. “This victory is absolutely essential,” Sánchez stated. “There is a group of about ten teams fighting to escape the relegation zone. Beating Barcelona is not just about three points; they win roughly 90% of their matches.”

The triumph provides a substantial morale boost for Girona, who now sit in 12th place with 29 points, creating a five-point cushion over the relegation spots, currently occupied by Mallorca with 24 points.

Addressing the specific moment that led to Beltrán‘s goal, Sánchez presented a nuanced view. “Claudio [the referee] was in charge of the game. He could have called a foul, but if he didn’t, then the VAR was right not to intervene,” he explained. The coach elaborated on the technical details of the challenge: “He used the sole of his foot to play the ball. In such a situation, I feel that if a foul had been called on the pitch, it would have been normal, and play would have stopped. However, if VAR had intervened to review it, I believe it would have been considered a foul.”

This admission from the winning manager underscores the ongoing debate about consistency and the application of technology in modern football, a debate that continues to dominate discussions in Spain’s top flight following another weekend of high drama.