Referees Committee Backs Barcelona’s Penalty Claim Against Getafe

FC Barcelona faced off against Getafe and ended up with a draw against Jose Bordalas’s team at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez. The match concluded in a goalless stalemate, leaving the Catalan giants returning to Barcelona with only one point.

Nonetheless, a sense of injustice pervades the Barcelona camp due to various decisions made by the game’s referee, Soto Grado. They firmly believe that these decisions had a negative impact on the outcome for La Blaugrana.

Of particular concern to the Catalan giants is the penalty call during stoppage time. This call arose when Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo was brought down in the penalty box. Despite a VAR review that usually results in a penalty, the referee opted not to award one. The reasoning behind this decision was an earlier incident involving Gavi’s handling of the ball, which the referee considered not worthy of punishment.

Barcelona fans and officials were outraged by this call, finding it difficult to accept the referee’s interpretation of ‘handling’ in relation to Gavi’s actions. New evidence has come to light, further supporting the assertion of the referee’s error.

As reported by journalist Joan Fabregas, the arbitration committee has determined that the handball call against Gavi was incorrect. The act of handling, in this case, was not deserving of a penalty. Consequently, the referee should have rightfully awarded FC Barcelona a penalty against Getafe CF in the dying moments of the match.

In response to this situation, Soto Grado has been suspended from refereeing any match on the second matchday of La Liga EA Sports. Meanwhile, Barcelona can find some solace in the fact that their grievances are being acknowledged, even though the wrong decision by the referee may have potentially cost them valuable points.