Flick: ‘What they are doing in Spain with the referees is unbelievable’

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has told off Spanish football for their treatment of officials, in a week where an investigation was opened into a referee following controversial calls that Real Madrid felt were against them. The German coach asked for the players and manager to protect referees, ‘as we can’t play without them.’

The week in Spanish football has been dominated once again by refereeing controversy, after Real Madrid railed against a sending off for Jude Bellingham, and complained of penalties not given. Alaves and Real Sociedad also expressed dismay at officiating in their games against Leganes and Real Betis respectively.

“It is very important to have referees. What they are doing with the referees in Spain is incredible. I don’t like it. We must protect them. I don’t like to use energy against the referees. We have the VAR and we have to trust them. You have to change things, because they are human and it is normal to make mistakes. Players and coaches also make mistakes, and we as players and managers have to protect them.”

Flick was also asked about the fact that Bellingham received the same suspension for telling Munuera to ‘f*** off’ as he did for throwing his hand in the air in November.

“I don’t have to say anything about this. In the last press conference I said something about Bellingham. He is a great player, one of the best in his position. He is not my player and I don’t have to say anything about this. What matters to me is my team on the field, that’s what I want to see.”

Flick said that discourse about officials was purely an excuse, and that winning or losing did not come down to them.

“We always look for excuses. If we lose it’s because of the referees and it’s not like that. We all make mistakes, I make them, you make them, even the referees. We have to protect the referees because we can’t play without them. We have to protect them. We have to play better to win.”