"We must protect referees" – Flick responds to Real Madrid’s criticism of officials

Real Madrid’s ongoing dispute with match officials has escalated beyond reasonable limits, leading to open attacks on referees. Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has called for an end to the controversy.

Details: The German manager emphasized that referees also have families that need protection, and he urged the Spanish federation to take a firm stance in resolving the situation.

Quote:

“It’s very important to have referees. What they are doing to officials in Spain is unbelievable. I don’t like it. We have to think about their families. As players and managers, we must protect them too. I don’t like wasting energy attacking referees.

We have VAR, and we have to trust them. Things must change because referees are human, and it’s normal to make mistakes. The federation must show its strength because this is important. Players and coaches also make mistakes, and we must protect them.

We are always looking for excuses. If we lose, it’s because of the referees, but that’s not true. We all make mistakes—I do, you do, even referees. We must protect them because we cannot play without them. We must protect them. We must play better to win,” Flick stated.