Barça fuming over ref blunders in Girona defeat as Iturralde calls out penalty farce

Former La Liga official Eduardo Iturralde González has stuck his oar in on the controversial decisions that left Barcelona seething after their 2-1 defeat to Girona.

Penalty drama should’ve ended differently

The ex-ref, who whistled in Spain’s top flight from 1995 to 2012, reckons Lamine Yamal’s missed penalty just before half-time should’ve been retaken. The youngster’s effort crashed against the woodwork with the score at 0-0, but Iturralde pointed out that both Bryan Gil and Frenkie de Jong had clearly entered the box before the kick was taken.

“The key is whether it influences the play, not if they touch the ball,” Iturralde explained on Spanish radio show ‘El Larguero’. He added that if goalkeepers get penalized for moving millimeters off their line, this infringement deserved the same treatment.

The former ref didn’t stop there, insisting this wasn’t a matter of interpretation but a clear error that the Spanish refereeing committee (CTA) needs to address.

Koundé foul controversy

Iturralde was equally adamant about the build-up to Girona’s winning goal, where many Barça supporters felt Jules Koundé was fouled by Echeverri:

• He called it a “very clear foul” that should have resulted in a booking
• Noted that “much lighter” stamp incidents have resulted in penalties this season
• Criticized the current instructions to VAR officials to limit their interventions

Barça’s growing frustration

These controversial decisions have only fueled Barcelona’s sense of injustice as they slip further behind in the title race. The defeat leaves them trailing Real Madrid by a significant margin, and these refereeing decisions will only add salt to the wound.

Girona, meanwhile, continue their remarkable season with another scalp against one of Spain’s giants, but even neutral observers might question whether they had the rub of the green with these decisions.