Barca boss sensationally blasts refereeing disgrace with Real Madrid comparison

Barça were outraged not to have been awarded a penalty in Saturday’s game against Getafe for a foul on Jules Koundé.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has reignited his battle against LaLiga referees in Spain following the decision not to award the Catalans a penalty for a foul on Jules Koundé in Saturday’s draw against Getafe, citing Real Madrid being awarded a spot-kick for a similar offence.

Match official Pablo González Fuertes' chose to overlook Christantus Uche’s manhandling of Koundé at a corner kick, despite the Nigerian clearly grabbing the defender inside the box to prevent him from reaching the ball. The fact VAR also opted to ignore the incident appears to have been the final straw for Laporta, who has now lashed out.

Koundé non-penalty a “disgrace” and “scandal”

“The officiating in the match against Getafe was a disgrace,” Laporta began, before specifically addressing the incident between Uche and Koundé: “It’s a scandal that the penalty on Koundé wasn’t called.”

The Barça president also pointed out that “a similar penalty was called on (Real Madrid defender Antonio) Rüdiger” and urged the media to “keep replaying the footage.”

Laporta was thought to be referring to a similar incident in Madrid’s home game against Getafe on December 1, when Los Blancos were awarded a spot-kick after Rüdiger was hauled back by Allan Nyom.

However, Laporta declined to comment when asked if Barcelona could still win LaLiga, given that Real Madrid are now seven points ahead of them.

Joan Laporta: inciting hatred towards referees?

Laporta made these serious accusations outside Barcelona’s City of Justice, where he had been in court testifying in a fraud case not linked to his role with the club.

The Barça chief’s controversial comments could have consequences and may be reviewed by the Spanish Soccer Federation’s Anti-Violence Committee for inciting hatred towards referees.