Barcelona manager Hansi Flick sends blunt response to Real Madrid over treatment of referees

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has accused Real Madrid of playing dirty with their treatment of officials ahead of the Copa del Rey final. Los Blancos continued their campaign against Spanish referees this week, leading to the referee in charge of the game in Seville to break down in tears ahead of the game.

Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea and Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, the VAR for the final, gave a press conference before the final, and Gonzalez Fuertes noted that the content on Real Madrid TV, which regularly puts together smear pieces on officials ahead of Real Madrid games, had real life consequences. He and de Burgos Bengoetxea both noted their kids had been bullied as a result. Los Blancos then requested that the officials were changed, which was rejected by the RFEF.

Unsurprisingly, it was brought up to Hansi Flick, who had the following to say to the press.

“What should I say now…? For me, it is only sport, only a game, it’s only football. It’s our responsibility to protect the players, to protect everyone around the game. It’s not nice. Of course, maybe on the pitch, there is emotion, but after the match, it must be done,” he told the media.

“The fans, everyone wants to see the players. Of course, we need the referees, but we have to take care of it. It’s not fair play, and not respectful. All the clubs, the coaches, but also the players. This is what we have to do.”