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Barcelona head coach Xavi blames referee Istvan Kovacs for the club's Champions League exit, pointing to the contentious red card shown to Ronald Araújo as the turning point of the match.
Xavi, head coach of Barcelona, directly blames referee Istvan Kovacs for the club's Champions League exit, emphasising that the red card shown to Ronald Araújo was unjust.
This move came after Barca's defeat by Paris Saint-Germain, where Araújo's dismissal shifted the tide of the game drastically.
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23:47 - 16.04.2024
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Referee's Decision Causes Controversy
Following Barcelona's heartbreaking exit from the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, Xavi did not hold back in criticising referee Istvan Kovacs for what he viewed as a game-changing decision.
The dismissal of Ronald Araújo due to a last-man challenge ignited a flurry of controversies, as Xavi believed it unfairly shifted the balance of the game in PSG's favour. Xavi expressed his frustration post-match, stating, "I told the referee that he was very poor. It was a disaster," he said, per GFNS.
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Xavi Expresses Displeasure with Referee's Call
Xavi's dissatisfaction with the referee's call was palpable, as he stressed the impact of playing with ten men on an elite level such as the Champions League. He argued that the red card not only altered the trajectory of the match but also negated the hard work put in by Barcelona throughout the season.
The Barcelona head coach reiterated, '"The red card ruined the match. I don’t like to talk about referees, but we have to say it. We can’t be silent." Xavi highlighted the significance of fairness in the game, emphasising his desire for an 11 vs. 11 encounter.
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