Joan García's Espanyol derby shove: Was Mateu Lahoz right about the rules?
The weekend's viral moment between Joan García and a teammate has sparked debate after Mateu Lahoz claimed it should've been an indirect free kick under Rule 12.
A bizarre derby moment involving an Espanyol goalkeeper shoving his own teammate has become the talk of Spanish football, with former referee Mateu Lahoz claiming the officials got it wrong.
The Controversial Incident
During the weekend’s Barcelona derby, Espanyol keeper Joan García produced a save against Roberto, then attempted to block the rebound. In a split-second decision, García pushed his own teammate Gerard Martín, seemingly trying to position him to block an opposition shot.
What started as merely a viral clip quickly transformed into a proper football controversy when Mateu Lahoz weighed in on Movistar. The retired referee didn’t mince his words: “This is stipulated by FIFA as unsporting conduct. Joan García cannot perform this action.”
Lahoz insisted the incident should have resulted in an indirect free kick to Espanyol’s opponents.
What Do The Rules Actually Say?
The debate centers around Rule 12 of the IFAB laws, which states:
- Players cannot use “excessive force or brutality” against anyone - including teammates
- Such actions constitute violent conduct regardless of whether contact occurs
- This applies even when not challenging for the ball
The critical point is that interpreting whether García’s push qualifies as “excessive force” falls to the match referee, not VAR.
Lahoz’s adamant stance has divided opinion among Spanish football followers. Some see it as a mountain made from a molehill, while others reckon the officials bottled it by not penalizing what the rulebook seemingly prohibits.
The incident highlights how even seemingly minor actions can become major talking points when the rule book gets involved - especially when you’ve got former refs like Lahoz eager to have their two bob’s worth on telly!