Referee César Soto Grado, undisputed protagonist of the controversial Girona-Barcelona match that ended with a 2-1 local victory in Montilivi, has taken an unprecedented step in his career: he has officially requested an apology from the Barcelona fans for some of the decisions made during the match.

After reviewing the images of the match in detail, the Rioja referee has admitted to being “deeply sorry” for certain assessments that, according to himself, could have influenced the development and result of the match corresponding to matchday 24 of LaLiga EA Sports.

The central action of the controversy was Girona’s second goal, the work of Fran Beltrán, preceded by a clear foul by Claudio Echeverri on Jules Koundé. The French defender touched the ball first, but received an obvious stomp on the ankle that Soto Grado did not sanction at the time, and the VAR – led by Dávid Gálvez – did not intervene to call the referee to the monitor either.

This omission has even been described by the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) as a serious error: the VAR should have notified to review the play and, if the infraction is confirmed, annul the goal that turned the score around.

Soto Grado, in a statement sent through official channels and which has been widely circulated in the media and networks, expressed: “I have reviewed the images carefully and I recognize that there were assessments that were not correct. I am deeply sorry for the impact they could have had on the game and on the fans of FC Barcelona. I sincerely apologize to the players, the club and especially to the fans who feel that justice was not done.”

A public mea culpa that few referees have offered in recent Spanish football, and that has generated mixed reactions: while some see it as a gesture of humility and professionalism, the majority of the Blaugrana fans consider it insufficient and late.

The apologies have not calmed the indignation that has been unleashed in Catalonia and among Barcelona fans around the world. On social networks, hashtags such as #SotoGradoDimision, #ArbitratoVergüenza and #RoboEnMontilivi have been trending for hours, with thousands of comments demanding drastic measures. Players like Raphinha and other members of the dressing room have hinted at their discomfort without directly naming the referee, while Hansi Flick, in a post-match press conference, avoided apologizing to the referee but admitted that the referee’s explanations at the end of the match did not completely convince him. “We all saw the situation.

If we had played better, maybe I would talk more, but I don’t want it to seem like a regret,” commented the German coach, focusing on the team’s self-criticism.

The strongest blow has come from the board. Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona, ​​has not been slow to react and has presented a formal complaint to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Technical Committee of Referees. In the letter, the club requests a “complete review of the refereeing performance of César Soto Grado” in the match against Girona, as well as the opening of an “exhaustive investigation” into the decisions that, in the Blaugrana’s opinion, directly influenced the result.

Laporta has gone further in statements to nearby media: “There are decisions that cannot be tolerated in a championship of this demand. It is not just an isolated error; there is a pattern that systematically harms us when we play away. We demand transparency and justice so that LaLiga is credible.”

This new refereeing episode revives the eternal debate about impartiality in Spanish football, especially with regard to Barcelona. Soto Grado has a controversial history with the culé club: he has directed 16 Barça games, with only two at home (87.5% away), and several controversial precedents, such as the annulment of a Blaugrana goal in a previous game due to a similar stomp by Koundé—precisely the same play, but with opposite criteria.

The CTA has internally recognized that the VAR failed by not intervening, but for the fans that is not enough: responsibility is demanded and, in many cases, sanctions or exclusion from future matches.

The sporting impact is huge. The defeat in Montilivi cost Barcelona the lead in LaLiga, which is now held by Real Madrid. Flick’s team is clearly going through a slump—loss of intensity, defensive errors in transitions and lack of effectiveness—but the refereeing has served as a spark for frustration to multiply.

Club sources assure that this complaint is not only about this match, but also about an accumulation of errors that, according to internal data, place Barça as the team most affected by referee decisions and VAR rulings so far this season.

Meanwhile, Girona celebrates a deserved victory in the game – they generated many chances and took advantage of their moments better – but the media focus has been almost completely diverted towards the referee. Echeverri himself, author of the uncalled foul, has avoided speaking out, although in the Girona dressing room they recognize that the controversy has partly clouded their victory.

What’s next? The RFEF and the CTA have Laporta’s complaint on the table, and it is expected that there will be an official response in the coming days. Soto Grado, for his part, could face a disciplinary review or, at the very least, a more detailed public explanation. For Barcelona, ​​the objective is clear: recover points on the field and demand arbitration that does not condition the titles. The fans, outraged but united, will not easily forget this night in Montilivi.

Spanish football, once again, is shaken by the shadow of refereeing. Soto Grado’s apologies open a door to dialogue, but to calm the Blaugrana storm it will take much more than words. The battle for sporting justice continues, and the Camp Nou is already waiting for concrete answers.