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Barcelona's head coach, Xavi Hernandez, voiced strong criticism against La Liga and its officiating team following a tumultuous 0-0 standoff with Getafe in the 2023/24 season opener. The match, which took place at Getafe's home ground, was marred by controversial decisions that not only led to each side being a man down but also saw the expulsion of the Barcelona boss himself.
Unleashing his discontent, Xavi pointed fingers at referee Cesar Soto for displaying favoritism towards Getafe, alleging that the home team got away with numerous infringements without any repercussions. Additionally, Xavi vociferously contested Soto's claim of a handball by Barcelona's emerging talent, Gavi. The alleged handball incident would've provided the Catalan giants with a golden opportunity to score via a penalty, following a challenge on their defensive stalwart, Ronald Araújo.
The drama escalated when Raphinha, Barcelona's pacey winger, was shown a red card in the first half, accused of maliciously elbowing Getafe's Gaston Alvarez. Xavi was quick to assert that the ejection was an outcome of the antagonistic environment perpetuated by the referee's poor management of the match. Getafe's strike force wasn't immune to the referee's stringent measures either, with Jaime Mata receiving marching orders after a rash challenge on Araújo.
Yet, Xavi's grievances weren't solely centered around the field's events. The revered Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, hailed for its precision, came under Xavi's radar, as he contested its decision to penalize Gavi for a handball, despite video evidence suggesting no contact with the ball. Expressing his dismay, the Barca legend dubbed the VAR verdict as a "joke" and a mere "invention" by the officiating crew.
Xavi's profound disappointment extended to the broader framework of La Liga. Speaking candidly post-match, he described the league as a "failed product," implying that subpar refereeing standards were tarnishing its global appeal. He emphasized, "If we sell La Liga as the product we saw today, we're failing. It's not positive." Xavi also warned of a possible decline in viewership if such contentious decisions persist.
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