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·26 November 2023
Xavi hits out at refereeing after Barcelona’s disappointing Rayo draw

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·26 November 2023
Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernández has revealed his frustration with the standard of officiating, on the back of his side’s meeting with Rayo Vallecano.
Xavi’s Barca marked their post-international break return to action, making the trip to the Vallecas for a La Liga meeting with the aforementioned Rayo.
When all was said and done on a disappointing afternoon for the Blaugrana, they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils, owing to a 1-1 stalemate.
This came after Unai López’s first-half opener was cancelled out by a late own goal from Florian Lejeune.
Whilst Barcelona’s performance, all told, was hardly worthy of all three points, the Catalans did look in with a shout of snatching as much right at the death.
After Raphinha went to ground under contact in the Rayo penalty area, a spot-kick appeared very much on the cards.
VAR, however, ultimately came to the decision not to intervene, with the day’s hosts, in turn, holding on for a share of the spoils.
Speaking to the media post-match, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of his side’s penalty shout was put to Xavi Hernández.
And the Spanish tactician was not shy in confirming his opinion that Barcelona were denied ‘a clear penalty’.
“Then I’m told I’m looking for excuses, but the foul on Raphinha is a clear penalty. It happened to us in Getafe, in Granada and today. We lost because we weren’t good in the first half, and that’s no excuse, but it’s a clear penalty.”
Conor Laird | GSFN