Supporters of Spanish giants Barcelona have flooded to social media on Sunday evening, to make their frustrations with one man very much known.
This, for those who may have missed it, comes on the back of the Blaugrana’s season opener.
Kicking the defence of their La Liga title into gear, Xavi Hernandez’s troops made the trip to the Estadio Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, for a meeting with Getafe.
Safe to say, however, that things did not exactly go to plan for the evening’s visitors.
Owing to a hugely frustrating 90 minutes, Barca were ultimately forced to settle for a share of the spoils, in a goalless stalemate.
What the Alfonso Perez matchup was lacking in goals, though, it more than made up for in drama.
It’s all kicking off in Madrid! 👀
Raphinha receives a straight red for this elbow on Gaston Alvarez… 🟥 pic.twitter.com/z544SEqyt7
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) August 13, 2023
Parity was soon restored on the personnel front, though, upon Getafe’s Jaime Mata being dismissed for a frankly dreadful challenge on Ronald Araujo.
But the red cards did not end there, as, a short time later, Xavi’s over the top protestations earned the Barcelona manager a spot in the stands.
Yet, the evening’s headline talking point, still, was yet to arrive.
This came with almost 100 minutes on the clock, when Barcelona were adamant that Ronald Araujo had been fouled in the penalty area.
Referee Cesar Soto, in turn, was called to check the VAR monitor, to run the rule over the incident.
After a lengthy check, however, Soto’s call was that Getafe were in fact deserving of a free-kick, with Gavi harshly penalised for an accidental handball.
Minutes later, the full-time whistle blew, with all associated with Barcelona left utterly bemused by what they had just witnessed.
In turn, it should come as little surprise to hear of the man responsible for the late drama in Madrid, Cesar Soto, being torn to shreds online.
Below, check out just some of the highlights from across Twitter:
The ref should be investigated
— Toyor (@toyor_pr) August 13, 2023
We got robbed. Laliga referees are sh!t pic.twitter.com/xTjtTk68fq
— RuF🦅 (@Ruf_ayi) August 13, 2023
.@gerardromero: “What the hell is going on with La Liga? It wasn’t Gavi’s handball, but even so the Getafe defender grabs Gavi before the ball touches Gavi… It could also have been a penalty for that! It’s unbelievable.” pic.twitter.com/zERXsmBwLR
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) August 13, 2023
@LaLigaEN Officials should be alerted to investigate the conduct of Referee Del Soto Grado in the match between @GetafeCF & @FCBarcelona .
His officiating of the match was unprofessional, & with many aspects undesirable, in such a widely, globally viewed match.
Investigate it https://t.co/DvJFd6VSc8
— Edwin (@Edwin05526876) August 13, 2023
Blame it on lewa, when the entire time the referee was smoking crack and letting the other team foul for free. Cesar soto shouldn’t referee another match again in his life.
— damian (@DamianD989) August 13, 2023
We were robbed once again, not surprised pic.twitter.com/AFkySYEyrk
— 𝓙𝓡 (@JJR0004_) August 13, 2023
Ladies and gentlemen, La Liga found Mateu Lahoz’s replacement 😤 pic.twitter.com/N6Ref85yL2
— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) August 13, 2023
THEY NEED TO START AN INVESTIGATION
— BarcaClear (@Barca4Culers) August 13, 2023
That is one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen, Iglesias is grabbing Gavis arm how is he supposed to move it😭
— Kofi (@fawcettkof1) August 13, 2023
That is a fucking disgrace. Genuinely cannot stand the hatred towards FC Barcelona from officials in La Liga. Been going on for decades and decades. That is a total and utter disgrace.
— Pablo Woolls-Blanco (@PabloWBlanco) August 13, 2023
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