Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has strongly questioned why he was sent off during his side’s 2-2 draw with Real Betis on Saturday afternoon – a decision which the club will reportedly appeal.
The usually reserved German coach lost his cool when Betis were awarded a second-half spot kick. Barcelona loanee Vitor Roque was at the epicentre of the incident, darting into the penalty area before clashing with Frenkie de Jong.
On-pitch referee Alejandro Muniz Ruiz initially waved play on, much to the evident disgust of Roque, who had lost his boot in the challenge. After a word in his ear from the video assistant referee, Muniz Ruiz overturned his decision and pointed to the spot, sparking an outburst from Flick. The Barcelona boss was shown a straight red card before Giovani Lo Celso dispatched the penalty.
“I don’t understand my red card,” Flick told the assembled reporters after the match. “I didn’t say anything to anyone, it was just my reaction. It took me a long time to decide whether it was a penalty or not. If you need that much time, it could be a question of doubt. I’m not proud. It’s never happened to me before. But maybe it’s something from here. I was angry with myself, not with anyone.”
Muniz Ruiz explained Flick’s dismissal in his match report, writing: “He was sent off for coming out of the technical area shouting and gesticulating, protesting one of my decisions.”
The former Bayern Munich boss has earned himself at least a two-game ban with that red card, although Spanish publication Marca have reported that the club are appealing the “unfair” decision.
As outlined in the report, Article 127 of the Spanish federation’s Disciplinary Code states that “protesting to the main referee, assistants or the fourth official, provided that it does not constitute a more serious offence, will be sanctioned with a suspension of two to three matches or for a period of up to one month”.
If Barcelona‘s appeal falls on deaf ears, Flick will be sidelined for the club’s last two league games of 2024; a visit from strugglers Leganes next weekend before a huge clash with Atletico Madrid on 21 December.
Beyond his own indiscipline, Flick was not impressed with his team’s performance. After watching his side concede a 94th-minute equaliser, the German huffed: “I’m really disappointed with what happened on the pitch. This was a match we needed to win. We have a very young…
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