Laporta Defends Flick After Controversial Red Card Against Girona

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta delivered a strong message during the club’s Ordinary General Assembly a day after Hansi Flick was sent off by referee Jesús Gil Manzano in the 90th minute of the Barça vs Girona clash — when the score was still 1-1. When asked by a member if he believed there was a “white hand” influencing refereeing decisions, Laporta was clear and critical: “If there isn’t any, it’s very similar. We appealed the two yellow cards. The referee went too far and waited for the reaction to show him the second. I know it’s difficult for them to remove the sanction. I’ve told Flick that we’re with him. I didn’t like the referee’s attitude.”

Laporta Points to Referee’s History with Barça

Laporta went on to remind members of Jesús Gil Manzano’s controversial history with Barcelona, noting that the Extremadura-born referee has previously sent off several key figures in the club’s history.

“This man has sent off almost all our standout players — Leo Messi, Luis Suárez, Neymar, Gerard Piqué, Dani Alves, and Robert Lewandowski. He has a CV that speaks for itself. We think nothing will happen, and it always does, right before an important match,” Laporta lamented.

A Message of Support and Optimism

Despite his frustration with the officiating, Laporta ended on a hopeful note, emphasizing unity and resilience within the squad.

“What happened yesterday — we were not at our best, not as we usually are. But it will give us a lot of confidence. And just as we finished, with a centre-back who ended up scoring as a striker, that shows our fighting spirit.”

Laporta’s comments underline Barcelona’s growing concern over officiating consistency, especially ahead of a crucial stretch in both La Liga and the Champions League.