LaLiga refereeing has come under scrutiny following Jude Bellingham’s controversial red card last week, and Hansi Flick has urged players and coaches to stand up for match officials.
Real Madrid’s Bellingham was sent off by Jose Munuera Montero during a 1-1 draw with Osasuna, after allegedly directing foul language towards the referee. The decision sparked outrage, leading to Montero receiving thousands of insulting and threatening messages, forcing him to shut down his Instagram account.
Although Bellingham denied insulting the referee, claiming he was talking to himself in English, he was handed a two-match suspension, further intensifying the debate about referees’ treatment in Spain.
Flick, speaking ahead of Barcelona’s match against Las Palmas, emphasized the need to protect officials from abuse.
“What they are doing to referees here in Spain is unbelievable. You have to think about their families too,” Flick said.
“Everyone makes mistakes, and it’s the responsibility of coaches and players to protect them.“
The Barcelona manager also stressed the importance of trusting VAR and strengthening the federation’s stance on referee protection.
“We now have VAR, and we must trust in them. The federation has to show how strong it is. This is very important. Referees are human, and things need to change.“
Barcelona Chasing Away Record Against Las Palmas
Barcelona currently sit at the top of LaLiga, level on 51 points with second-placed Real Madrid, and just one point ahead of Atletico Madrid in third.
The Catalans are unbeaten in their last nine away matches in all competitions (W6 D3), scoring an average of 3.44 goals per game (31 goals in total).
Barcelona haven’t managed a 10-game unbeaten away run since September 2022, when they went 15 games unbeaten between January and September of that year (W12 D3).
However, Las Palmas will be looking to make history by completing their first-ever LaLiga double over Barcelona, having already beaten them 2-1 in the reverse fixture in November 2024.
Squad Rotation Expected Ahead of Atletico Clash
Barcelona also face Atletico Madrid on Tuesday in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, and Flick hinted at the possibility of resting key players against relegation-threatened Las Palmas.
“We still have one more training session before we decide [on rotation],” Flick stated.
“We always focus on the next game, but we must also think about Atletico. The important game is Las Palmas.“
Las Palmas currently sit in 17th place, level on 23 points with third-bottom Valencia, making the match crucial for their survival hopes.
Flick acknowledged that his squad is in good physical condition, but he must carefully manage his players ahead of a packed schedule, including the upcoming international break.
“The team is at a good physical level, but we have to consider the upcoming games. The players are also playing internationally, so we must assess what they can give us.“
With Barcelona competing on multiple fronts, Flick will need to strike the right balance between maintaining momentum in LaLiga and preparing for a crucial cup semi-final against one of their fiercest rivals.
