PAMPLONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 28: Hansi Flick, Head Coach of FC Barcelona, looks on prior to the LaLiga match between CA Osasuna and FC Barcelona at Estadio El Sadar on September 28, 2024 in Pamplona, Spain.

Barcelona coach responds to the recent controversial Real Madrid TV video

Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

Controversy is nothing new for either of FC Barcelona or Real Madrid given their stature. With both teams being two of the world’s biggest football clubs, it is only natural for them to be dragged down with one controversy or another. Ultimately, for both Barcelona and their eternal rivals, more often than not it includes things that they can overlook.

However, there are some cases that simply can not be overlooked no matter how hard any club or organization tries. One such case is that of Real Madrid TV’s constant attacks on La Liga referees ahead of important fixtures in their attempts to pile pressure on certain match officials to help their own chances, as well as releasing other videos to attack players from other clubs, including icons from Barcelona such as Xavi Hernandez.

Most recently, Real Madrid TV released a controversial video directed at Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez, the referee who has been selected to oversee the proceedings of El Clasico. Soon after it became official that he would be the man handling that responsibility, the video was released by Real Madrid.

Due to the extremely negative nature of this video, one that was trying to portray the referee as an individual who has made decisions in the past that have hurt Real Madrid, it is only natural that important figures in the league are asked to comment on such media.

One of those figures was Hansi Flick, the Barcelona head coach. As highlighted by SPORT, the German tactician was asked about these videos and his response was a diplomatic one that claimed that he had personally faced no issues with the referees in La Liga:

“This isn’t something we would do, and it’s not right. I think referees have a tough job, and it’s not my place to criticize them. I’ve had good experiences with referees in La Liga, and I have no complaints.”

Beyond just the Barcelona head coach, however, another key figure of the Spanish league was also asked to comment on the recent controversial video. That man was none other than Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga himself:

“I haven’t seen the latest video, but I’ve seen the others. This isn’t fair play, nor is it the historic sportsmanship of Real Madrid. They’ve been breaking from it for a while now, and the focus on refereeing is honestly tiresome and repetitive. It doesn’t reflect Real Madrid’s values, and any Madrid fan would say that with a clear conscience.”

While it can not be said for sure if the video in question will end up influencing the referee’s decisions in any way once the game arrives, there must still be some level of accountability.

Constantly accusing the referees of being biased or making such videos against them is completely against the fairplay rules of the game, and it is rather alarming to see that neither La Liga nor Tebas, a man who has publicly admitted to being a Real Madrid fan himself in the past, have taken any major action so far.

Tags Barcelona vs Real Madrid El Clasico Javier Tebas Real Madrid Real Madrid TV