Barca Blast Refereeing Inconsistency in Letter to Spanish Federation

FC Barcelona's striker Joao Felix celebrates after scoring the 2-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League group H soccer match between FC Barcelona and FC Porto, in Barcelona, Spain, 28 November 2023. (EPA)
FC Barcelona's striker Joao Felix celebrates after scoring the 2-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League group H soccer match between FC Barcelona and FC Porto, in Barcelona, Spain, 28 November 2023. (EPA)
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Barca Blast Refereeing Inconsistency in Letter to Spanish Federation

FC Barcelona's striker Joao Felix celebrates after scoring the 2-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League group H soccer match between FC Barcelona and FC Porto, in Barcelona, Spain, 28 November 2023. (EPA)
FC Barcelona's striker Joao Felix celebrates after scoring the 2-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League group H soccer match between FC Barcelona and FC Porto, in Barcelona, Spain, 28 November 2023. (EPA)

Spanish champions Barcelona filed a complaint with the country's football federation (RFEF) criticising perceived refereeing inconsistencies on Saturday.

Triggered by the club's anger at a controversially disallowed goal in the 4-0 Copa del Rey defeat by Atletico Madrid on Thursday, Barca wrote to the RFEF and Spain's refereeing committee (CTA), demanding more transparency.

Barca said in a statement their letter expresses "deep concern over repeated refereeing decisions it considers detrimental (to the club) and lacking a consistent standard".

The Catalan giants highlighted "the existence of disparate decisions responding to actions of identical nature", which they say creates a "double standard", AFP reported.

Barca said there has been a "pattern of flagrant refereeing errors throughout the season", many of which have set them back, which "directly affects the integrity of the competition and fuels growing mistrust".

They also called for greater transparency in the use of VAR, with a clearer criteria for when referees are called to review actions, and requested the full publication of all VAR audio.

Several other clubs have complained about refereeing in Spain this season, while Real Madrid have regularly criticised referees through their television channel over the past two seasons.

In February 2025 Real Madrid published an open letter claiming Spanish refereeing was "rigged" and "completely discredited" after they fell to a surprise defeat at Espanyol.

Barcelona are currently being investigated by Spanish authorities in a sports corruption case after paying former CTA vice-president Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira seven million euros ($8.3 million) over several years. The club deny any wrongdoing.



Lamine Yamal Becomes Barcelona's Youngest Captain at 19

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - FC Barcelona v Feyenoord - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 9, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - FC Barcelona v Feyenoord - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 9, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
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Lamine Yamal Becomes Barcelona's Youngest Captain at 19

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - FC Barcelona v Feyenoord - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 9, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - FC Barcelona v Feyenoord - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 9, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Albert Gea

Lamine Yamal became the youngest Barcelona captain at 19 years and 58 days old during the ‌Spanish champions' ‌5-1 win ‌over ⁠Feyenoord in the ⁠Champions League on Wednesday.

First-choice captain Raphinha handed the ⁠armband to the ‌Spanish ‌forward when ‌the Brazilian ‌was substituted in the 71st minute, said Reuters.

Bojan Krkic was ‌Barcelona's previous youngest skipper, having ⁠captained ⁠the team during a 2010 Copa del Rey match when he was 20.


Asian Games Begin with Qatar Basketball Win, 9 Days Before Opening Ceremony

This general view shows players competing in the men's basketball Group B game between Iran and Qatar during the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on September 10, 2026. (Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP)
This general view shows players competing in the men's basketball Group B game between Iran and Qatar during the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on September 10, 2026. (Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP)
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Asian Games Begin with Qatar Basketball Win, 9 Days Before Opening Ceremony

This general view shows players competing in the men's basketball Group B game between Iran and Qatar during the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on September 10, 2026. (Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP)
This general view shows players competing in the men's basketball Group B game between Iran and Qatar during the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on September 10, 2026. (Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP)

The Asian Games began in Japan on Thursday with Qatar beating Iran in men's basketball, the first action in the continental multi-sport showpiece that has more participants than the Olympics.

Over 17,000 athletes and officials are expected to take part in 43 sports at the Nagoya-Aichi Games -- which do not officially start until the opening ceremony on September 19 and will run until October 4.

Several events such as basketball, football, cricket, hockey and modern pentathlon will get under way before the opening ceremony, AFP reported.

Qatar held off a comeback from Iran to win their Group B encounter 59-35 at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya in the first match of a men's basketball competition that will hold medal finals on September 20, the day after the opening ceremony.

"We know we need to win at least one game so we can qualify for the next round," said Qatar's Michael Lewis, the United States-born player who scored a game-high 21 points.

"Feels good to get some team camaraderie back, and now we have got to keep going."

Later in Group B, Taiwan beat Jordan 83-80.

Los Angeles 2028 Olympics qualifying spots are up for grabs in several sports at the Asian Games, which are returning to Japan for the first time since 1994.

Organizers hope the athletes will have a "unique experience" staying in accommodation ranging from a cruise liner and wooden containers to standard hotel rooms.

Officials are confident that the plan will not be affected by Japan's typhoon season, which is usually in full swing in September-October.

Weather has already caused disruptions, with record rainfall on Tuesday forcing hundreds of athletes briefly to evacuate their accommodation.

Rainwater also leaked into some competition venues, with more wet weather forecast for the coming days.

Among those in action at the Games will be Philippine tennis sensation Alexandra Eala and a pair of world-class teenage talents in 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi.


A New Era for the Manchester Derby after Pep Guardiola's Departure

(FILES) Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola poses with the Premier League trophy after the presentation ceremony following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 21, 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
(FILES) Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola poses with the Premier League trophy after the presentation ceremony following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 21, 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
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A New Era for the Manchester Derby after Pep Guardiola's Departure

(FILES) Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola poses with the Premier League trophy after the presentation ceremony following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 21, 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
(FILES) Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola poses with the Premier League trophy after the presentation ceremony following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 21, 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Pep Guardiola's departure was expected to shift the balance of power in Manchester.

The early signs suggest otherwise, The Associated Press reported.

For the first time in 10 years on Sunday, Manchester United goes into the derby against a Manchester City no longer guided by the genius of Guardiola.

Yet, if City wins at Old Trafford, the team of new manager Enzo Maresca would open a 12-point lead on United only four rounds into the Premier League.

Even this early in the campaign that would be a huge gap for United to make up.

While City is still getting used to change at the top after a decade of Guardiola, United has endured a carousel of managers at the same time in a desperate bid to return it to former glories.

Michael Carrick is the seventh permanent manager since the retirement of Alex Ferguson in 2013.

United fans will hope Guardiola's exit will prove as profound as Ferguson's. United has not won the Premier League since Ferguson's final season in charge.

In theory, Guardiola's exit has removed the biggest barrier standing in the way of United's route back to the top following his dominance of English soccer. Though he left without the title in his last two seasons, his run of six league crowns in seven years underlined City's supremacy for the majority of his time at the club.

It would be asking a lot for Maresca — or anyone else for that matter — to emulate that level of success. Maresca, however, could not have made a better start to the season after a 100% winning record in the league and victory in City's opening Champions League game this week.

Erling Haaland also looks at the top of his game with five goals in his last three appearances.

It's been a different story for United after its resurgence under Carrick in the second half of last season led to a third place finish.

The opening day defeat to newly promoted Hull was an early blow. There was a win against another newcomer in Ipswich but a 2-2 draw at Everton after leading twice.

It is the type of inconsistency that has hindered United throughout the post-Ferguson years and something Carrick will need to quickly stamp out.

He has recent good memories of the derby. His first match in charge when appointed as Ruben Amorim's replacement was a 2-0 win against City in Guardiola's final Manchester derby.

Key matchups The Manchester derby is the big one of the weekend, with pressure on United to get the season going, while it would be a first statement win for Maresca at City. Defending champion Arsenal is at Sunderland on Saturday.

Players to watch Arsenal's Martin Odegaard is in outstanding form with four goals in five games in all competitions. Haaland also has five goals and looks unstoppable.

Out of action Cody Gakpo missed Liverpool's game against Atletico Madrid because of an adductor issue. Bradley Barcola limped out of that match after appearing to hurt his calf, but coach Andoni Iraola said it was cramp.

Off the field Manchester United fans plan to stage a protest ahead of the derby in opposition to a clampdown by the club on ticket touting.

The 1958 supporters group claims “loyal, generational” fans are being sanctioned or banned “without, clear and compelling evidence.”

United says its investigation has “uncovered significant and organized touting”.