Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez took advantage of the refereeing controversy during Real Madrid’s win over Almeria to point out that he felt the same criteria was not being consistently applied across La Liga. The next day a report would emerge that Xavi had been concerned about the refereeing from the very first meeting he had with them.
However not everyone sees things the same as him. One of the former referees who has regularly criticised Real Madrid for the pressure that they out on officials, Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez, had a rather blunt response to his comments on Diario AS.
“His words are unfortunate, they come straight from the playbook of the best Jose Mourinho in history.”
“Personally, I would ask Xavi these questions. Are these the same referees as last year? Yes. Is it the same Referees Committee (CTA) as last year? Yes. Is it the same Real Madrid as last year? Yes. Is it the same Barcelona as last year? Yes. Well then how did you win La Liga last year?”
Iturralde on Xavi's comments:
"Personally, I would ask Xavi this. Are these the same referees as last year? Yes. Is it the same CTA as last year? Yes. Is it the same Real Madrid? Yes. Is it the same Barcelona? Yes. Well then how did you win La Liga?"pic.twitter.com/fx6elUuv7p
— Football España (@footballespana_) January 23, 2024
“Is it that the referees let you win last year, and this year no? Come on, I don’t see any conspiracies here, nor anything of the sort. Very unfortunate words.”
It seems that confidence is at a record low in the officiating in Spain, but that both Real Madrid and Barcelona fans are engrossed in a narrative of victimhood, propagated by Xavi in this case, but also official figures at both clubs. Meanwhile the rest of the league, and in particular Almeria here, find themselves sidelined from a discussion that they feel injures them most.
Xavi is obviously deflecting attention from his poor tactics and managerial talents. Go bark up another tree, Xavi!
Xavi made his point with reference. The onus is on the corrupt referee ituralde to say whether all the examples of the wrong calls by the unfortunate referees are not true. Xavi may have his own tactical deficit but he’s very correct regarding referees’ performance that has been favourable to Real Madrid.
Might be the only reasonable thing ItturdaIde ever said.
Xavi made his point with reference. The onus is on the corrupt referee ituralde to say whether all the examples of the wrong calls by the unfortunate referees are not true. Xavi may have his own tactical deficit but he’s very correct regarding referees’ performance that has been favourable to Real Madrid.
Dont throw stones in a glass house that belongs to José María Enríquez Negreira.
Xavier should go and correct his tactical deficiency instead of worrying himself by the victory of Real Madrid. Ian personally convinced that the goals were genuine having listened to the audio VAR conversation that was leaked and watched the clip of Vini’s goal time without number. Xavi and Barca should not be throwing stones in glass house. Negreira bam.
Whenever Real Madrid wins it’s as result of help from the Ref but when Barca win it’s as result of hard ehn? Mr Xavi Hernandez please face your tactical deficiency cause your team barely won comfortably this season don’t disrupt Madrid’s season with your mind games coupled with your president balance your books make good signings not retired men before complaining about Referees mind you we have not forgotten Negreira case