Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has vehemently disputed the VAR decision to disallow Robert Lewandowski’s goal in Sunday’s 1-0 La Liga defeat to Real Sociedad.
Hansi Flick’s team delivered a lackluster performance, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad on Sunday, November 10.
The game was overshadowed by Robert Lewandowski’s controversial disallowed goal, a strike that could have given his team the lead.
Despite the striker’s efforts, the semi-automated offside system intervened, denying Barcelona the goal.
The match took a turn for the worse as Sheraldo Becker capitalized on Luka Sucic’s assist to put Real Sociedad in the lead before halftime.
What Hansi Flick Said
Flick emphasized that the VAR’s ruling was incorrect, stating, “It was the wrong decision from the VAR. It’s a clear goal, but we have to accept it.”
Despite the contentious decision, Flick refused to attribute the loss solely to the VAR error. “We didn’t have the strength to score goals today,” he acknowledged.
Furthermore, Flick assessed his team’s performance, saying, “In the first half, we suffered; the second half was better. However, we made the wrong decisions in the final third.”
Moving forward, Flick urged his players to accept the result and focus on improvement: “I told the team we have to accept it, absolutely clear. But at the end, we’ll come back stronger.”
Additionally, Flick conceded that Barcelona did not create sufficient scoring chances, particularly in the crucial final third where several mistakes were made.
Despite demonstrating finesse in possession during the early stages, the team faced difficulties in sustaining their performance, ultimately losing to Sociedad.
He elaborated: “We saw the clear lack of opportunities created. There are no excuses for that.”
“Despite a strong start with possession, we soon began to struggle and eventually conceded a goal. Our decision-making in the final third was poor.”
VAR Controversial Call On Robert Lewandowski’s Goal
Lewandowski’s first-half strike was disallowed due to a marginal offside call, which was later revealed to be an error.
As seen in the video, the VAR mistakenly confused Lewandowski’s boot with the defender’s.
Barcelona Stars Unite In Outrage Over Controversial VAR Decision
The controversy surrounding Robert Lewandowski’s disallowed goal against Real Sociedad continues to escalate, with Barcelona players joining the chorus of dissent.
Barcelona forward Raphinha took to social media to express his frustration, posting images highlighting the injustice.
The Brazilian’s visuals underscored the seeming impossibility of Lewandowski being offside, sparking widespread debate.
He posted an hilarious visual representation illustrating the necessary appearance of Lewandowski’s feet for him to have been deemed offside.
Goalkeeper Inaki Pena and defender Marc Casado have also voiced their discontent, emphasizing the need for corrective action if the decision is proven incorrect.
The fallout from this controversy has sparked a broader conversation about VAR’s role in Spanish football. Will the governing bodies respond to Barcelona’s concerns, or will the debate continue?
What’s next for Barcelona?
Following the international break, La Liga takes a pause.
Barcelona will use this time to reflect on their recent loss and gear up for their next match on November 23 against Celta Vigo.
What’s your take on Lewandowski’s disallowed goal? Please, share your thoughts with us in the comments box below:
