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Spanish giants Barcelona have escalated their frustrations with Spanish officiating by filing a formal complaint with the country’s football federation (RFEF).
The move was triggered by a controversially disallowed goal during their recent 4-0 Copa del Rey loss to Atletico Madrid.
In a strongly worded letter to both the RFEF and the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), the club demanded immediate transparency and a standardised approach to officiating, citing deep concerns over decisions they believe are unfairly penalising the team.
The club’s statement aims to describe what they describe as a “double standard” in Spanish football, pointing to “disparate decisions responding to actions of an identical nature.”
Barcelona argued that a pattern of flagrant errors throughout the current season has directly compromised the integrity of the competition.
To combat this, they are calling for the full publication of all VAR audio and clearer criteria for when on-field referees are summoned to the monitor for reviews.
This protest adds to a growing wave of dissent among La Liga’s elite.
Real Madrid have been a vocal critic for years, even publishing an open letter in February 2025 claiming the system was “rigged” after a defeat to Espanyol.
However, Barcelona’s demands for integrity come at a delicate time; the club is still embroiled in a legal investigation regarding millions of euros paid to former CTA vice-president Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.
While the club maintains these payments were for technical reports and not influence, the case continues to cast a shadow over their public demands for fairness.
Ultimately, Barcelona’s latest move reflects a broader crisis of confidence in Spanish officiating.
The Catalan club is pushing for a level of public accountability that the RFEF has so far been hesitant to provide by demanding the release of VAR recordings.
As the season enters its most critical phase, the pressure on the CTA to harmonise its decision-making process has never been higher.
