Deco fumes at VAR decisions after Barça's Metropolitano mauling
Barcelona sporting director Deco didn't hold back in his criticism of VAR after the heavy Copa del Rey defeat to Atlético Madrid, questioning both the disallowed goal and a red card incident.
Barcelona’s sporting director vents frustration at officiating after heavy Copa defeat, suggesting Giuliano Simeone should have seen red for challenge on Balde.
‘A Proper Hammering’
Barcelona’s sporting director Deco was in no mood to sugarcoat things after his side took a proper battering at the Metropolitano. The 4-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg has left the Catalans with a mountain to climb, and the former Portugal international didn’t shy away from admitting his team were well below par.
“Not good feelings because a 4-0 is a tough, difficult result,” Deco told Teledeporte after the match. While he maintained the tie wasn’t completely dead and buried, he acknowledged the first-half performance was particularly poor.
VAR in the Doghouse
While accepting Barça’s shortcomings, Deco couldn’t resist having a pop at the technology that’s supposed to be helping officials get decisions right. The sporting director was clearly miffed about two key incidents:
- The six-minute VAR review that eventually ruled out Cubarsí’s goal
- Giuliano Simeone’s challenge on Alejandro Balde that Deco felt deserved a red card
“I don’t understand it. I don’t see improvements with VAR, it’s increasingly difficult to understand the decisions, taking 10 minutes to decide…,” Deco lamented.
He went further on the Simeone tackle: “If VAR had reviewed Simeone’s challenge on Balde, perhaps it would have been a red card too…”
Comeback Kings?
Despite the disastrous scoreline, Deco tried to keep a sliver of hope alive, pointing to Barcelona’s history of dramatic turnarounds. “This team has shown it has the capacity to come back and has had spectacular comebacks. It will be difficult, but not impossible.”
He also explained the substitution of Marc Casadó was a precautionary measure after the youngster had already been booked, with players struggling for footing on the pitch.
Barça now face the unenviable task of trying to overturn a four-goal deficit in the return leg. Based on their first-half showing at the Metropolitano, they’ll need to pull something truly special out of the old dog and bone if they’re to have any chance of reaching the final.