Barcelona’s head coach, Xavi, was unequivocal in attributing blame for the club’s Champions League elimination to referee Istvan Kovacs, firmly asserting that Ronald Araújo’s red card was unjustified.
The Spanish side’s exit from Europe came after a disappointing defeat to French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain.
Despite initially appearing to have the tie under control with Raphinha’s early goal giving them a 4-2 aggregate lead, the game took a dramatic turn following Araújo’s expulsion.
The turning point came when Araújo was sent off for a last-man challenge on Bradley Barcola, shifting the momentum firmly in PSG’s favor.
The French side capitalized on their numerical advantage, scoring four goals to secure their place in the Champions League semi-finals.
Xavi was vocal in his criticism of referee Kovacs during the post-match press conference at Montjuïc. He repeatedly emphasized the detrimental impact of Araújo’s red card on the outcome of the match:
“I told the referee that he was very poor. It was a disaster. Giving a red card for it is too much. It’s a real shame. The referee ruined all of our work this season. I wanted to play 11 vs 11, fairly.”
Xavi expressed frustration at the referee’s decision, believing it drastically altered the course of the game.
He lamented the loss of playing with a full complement of players, stating that at this level, competing with ten men is nearly impossible.
Xavi emphasized his desire for a fair contest and voiced his disappointment at the referee’s role in deciding the outcome.
Xavi’s post-match comments highlighted his discontent with referee Kovacs’ decision to send off Araújo, which he believes unfairly impacted Barcelona’s chances in the Champions League.
He stressed the importance of playing with a full team and expressed disappointment at the referee’s influence on the match’s outcome.
