The match began with alternating dominance, but Barcelona took the lead thanks to a well-crafted play in the first half. However, Girona reacted strongly in the second half. Thomas Lemar tied the game in the 61st minute with a precise shot after a good combination in the area.
The local pressure increased and, in the 85th minute, Fran Beltrán made it 2-1 with a great goal from outside the area that left goalkeeper Joan García with no options. In stoppage time, Joel Roca could have increased the lead, but Barcelona resisted as best they could in an agonizing finale.
Frenkie de Jong, who played the 90 minutes in midfield partnering with Dani Olmo, was one of the most active players on the visiting team, but also the most frustrated at the end of the match. In the mixed zone, the midfielder did not hold back and launched harsh accusations against the referee trio led by the main referee and the VAR team. “If they want Barcelona to fail at all costs, then they should give the 3 points directly to Girona,” declared De Jong, visibly indignant.
The culé captain went further by ensuring that three specific referees “cheated” during the match by “deliberately ignoring all the fouls committed by the rival”, which, according to him, placed Barcelona at a “serious disadvantage” from the start.
De Jong’s words immediately resonated on social networks and on sports programs throughout Spain. The Dutchman, known for his usual temperance, listed several controversial actions: harsh tackles without sanction on Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, a possible penalty not called after a handball in the local area and several selective interruptions that, in his opinion, broke the rhythm of the Blaugrana game. “It’s not the first time it’s happened, but today it was scandalous.
“They stole the game from us with decisions that cannot be justified,” he added, implicitly referring to a pattern that, according to him and part of the culé fans, is repeated in several matches.
The reaction was immediate. Hours after the statements, the president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas, issued an official statement that shook Spanish football. Instead of directly sanctioning or reprimanding De Jong for his serious accusations – which could have merited a fine or the opening of a disciplinary file for questioning the referee’s honorability -, Tebas opted for an unexpected and drastic measure: he announced the immediate opening of an exhaustive investigation into the refereeing of the Girona-Barcelona match, including the complete review of all the controversial plays with access to additional angles of the VAR and testimonies of those involved.
“In the face of such serious accusations from a player of the caliber of Frenkie de Jong, captain of FC Barcelona and international reference, LaLiga cannot remain impassive. The integrity of the competition comes first. Therefore, we have decided to temporarily suspend the referee evaluations of this match and commission an independent report from external experts to determine if there were serious errors, biases or any irregularity.
“If any manipulation or intentional negligence is confirmed, the harshest measures possible will be taken, including exemplary sanctions and, where appropriate, replay of the match if so determined by the Competition Committee,” said Tebas in a text that was surprising for its conciliatory tone towards Barcelona’s complaints, something unusual in its history of confrontations with the Catalan club.
This decision by Thebes left public opinion stunned. While some sectors of Real Madrid and other teams accused the president of giving in to culé pressure to avoid a new scandal like those experienced in previous seasons with the Negreira case, the Blaugrana fans celebrated the measure as a step towards transparency. “Finally someone is listening. This is not just for today, it is for years of grievances,” thousands of followers commented on social media.
Other analysts saw in Tebas’ movement a strategic move to divert attention from other open fronts in LaLiga, such as the failed match project in the United States or the tensions with the AFE.
The Barcelona coach, Hansi Flick, appeared at a press conference with a restrained but firm tone. “Frenkie has said what he feels, and I respect that. We all watched the game. There are plays that hurt because they change the result. We hope the investigation is quick and fair. We will continue working to improve and compete on every ball,” declared the German, who avoided delving into the accusations but did not deny them.
In Girona, the atmosphere was one of contained euphoria. Míchel, local coach, praised his players for “a very complete game” and avoided entering into the referee controversy. “We won because we were superior in many phases. The result reflects what was seen on the field. The rest must be resolved by the competent bodies,” he said.
The setback in Montilivi complicates Barcelona’s aspirations in a season where Real Madrid maintains a comfortable lead at the top. With injuries and casualties accumulated – Pedri and others absent -, Flick’s team needs to react quickly in the next matches. Meanwhile, the focus is on the resolution of the investigation announced by Tebas, which could take weeks but has already generated an earthquake in Spanish football.
De Jong, for his part, is exposed to possible sanctions if the Committee considers his words as a direct attack on referee honorability, although the opening of the investigation by LaLiga could serve as a mitigating factor. The truth is that his statements have opened a deep debate about the quality and transparency of refereeing in LaLiga, a recurring issue that seems far from being resolved.
This Girona-Barcelona will go down in history not only for the result, but for being the trigger for a crisis that involves players, clubs and the very institution that governs the competition. All of Spain awaits the next chapter of this saga that, for now, has only just begun.
