Flick Calls for Players and Coaches to Show Respect for Referees Following Bellingham Controversy

Barcelona’s head coach Hansi Flick emphasised the need to protect LaLiga referees from abuse by players and coaches alike, following the controversy surrounding Jose Munuera Montero’s decision to send off Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, a 21-year-old midfielder from England, during a recent match.

The referee was reportedly inundated with abuse, including threats and insults, which led him to disable his Instagram account. The Spanish football federation is also reviewing a potential conflict of interest with a company co-owned by Montero.

Although Montero was exonerated of any misconduct, the incident surrounding Bellingham’s dismissal—triggered by the player directing foul language at the referee during Barcelona’s 1-1 draw with Osasuna—has drawn significant attention to the treatment of match officials in Spain.

Bellingham has received a two-match ban despite his claims that the referee had misinterpreted his remarks, as he was merely talking to himself in English.

“It’s crucial that we look after the referees. What’s happening to them in Spain right now is simply unbelievable. We must also consider their families,” Flick stated before Barcelona’s match against Las Palmas on Saturday.

“Everyone is capable of making mistakes, and it is the duty of both coaches and players to shield them from such treatment.”

“With VAR now available, we need to have faith in its process. The federation must demonstrate its strength regarding these issues. It’s vital that we adjust how we manage such situations because referees are human too,” he added during the press conference.

Currently, Barcelona leads LaLiga, sharing 51 points with their rivals Real Madrid and sitting one point ahead of Atletico Madrid in third place.

This upcoming Tuesday, Barcelona will face Atletico in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, and Flick hinted at the possibility of rotating his squad when they take on Las Palmas, who are struggling at the bottom of the table, currently placed 17th with 23 points.

“We have one more training session today, and we’ll make a decision later about potential player rotations. While our immediate focus is on Las Palmas, we must also consider the Atletico match,” he noted.

“The team is in good physical shape, yet we also need to keep an eye on the upcoming fixtures. With an international break approaching next month, we have to assess what our players are capable of giving us on the pitch.”