14/02/2026
🚨 FC Barcelona Official Statement:
Barça announce that, today, Saturday, February 14, the club sent an official letter to the Spanish Federation addressed to its President, the President of the Technical Committee of Referees, the Head of VAR, and the Director of the Legal Department, in which the club expressed its deep concern over the repetition of refereeing decisions it considers unfair and lacking a unified standard.
In the document, the club outlined several key points:
1. Lack of consistency in disciplinary criteria
Barça condemn the existence of differing decisions in cases identical in nature, particularly regarding disciplinary sanctions. The club believes this disparity creates a perception of double standards, which contradicts the principles of justice, equality, and legal certainty that should govern competition.
2. Contradictory criteria in handball situations
The club pointed to inconsistency in the interpretation of handballs inside the penalty area, even in matches officiated by the same referees. This lack of uniformity reinforces the impression of arbitrary decisions and an absence of predictability in the application of the law.
3. Accumulation of influential errors
Beyond individual incidents, Barça stressed the recurrence of serious refereeing errors throughout the season, many of which have been decisive and have gone against the club’s interests. The club believes this accumulation directly affects the integrity of the competition and generates a growing climate of mistrust.
4. Application and transparency of VAR technology
The club expressed justified doubts about the use and correct application of the technology, especially in millimetric decisions that were not accompanied by conclusive technical explanations. It also denounced the lack of transparency in the management and release of VAR audio recordings.
5. Criteria for on-screen reviews
Barça questioned the absence of a clear and unified standard for sending referees to review incidents on the pitch-side monitor, considering that this contributes to a feeling of insecurity and inequality in decision-making.
The club confirmed that this initiative is not intended to question the professionalism of refereeing officials, but rather to demand an urgent review of the applied criteria, with the aim of ensuring:
• The unification of refereeing decisions
• Equality of treatment between clubs
• The credibility and prestige of competitions
Barça also demanded the full publication of all VAR audio recordings, regardless of whether an on-field review took place, considering this an essential measure for transparency and refereeing awareness.
The club proposed the creation of a specific code or disciplinary framework for refereeing officials, establishing public and transparent consequences in cases of serious errors or negligence, with the objective of strengthening trust in the system. It clarified that this proposal is not solely about defending its own interests, but comes within the broader aim of improving the overall functioning of the competition for the benefit of all clubs, preventing the repetition of such situations in the future, and guaranteeing a clear, stable, and fair framework for all.
Barça stressed the need for its demands to be studied with the utmost seriousness, and for concrete measures to be taken to prevent the recurrence of such situations going forward.
