Barcelona manager Hansi Flick experienced an unprecedented moment in his coaching career last Saturday as he was sent off during Barcelona’s match against Real Betis.
The red card was issued following Flick’s disagreement with a penalty awarded to Betis after Frenkie de Jong was deemed to have pushed Vitor Roque in the box.
Referee Muniz Ruiz included details of the incident in his official report. He noted,
“In the 65th minute, coach Flick, Hans-Dieter, was sent off for the following reason: For leaving the technical area shouting and gesticulating, protesting one of my decisions.”
However, video footage captured paints a different picture. In the footage shared by DAZN, Flick is seen raising his hand in a subtle gesture of disapproval without even making eye contact with the referee.
Interestingly, the decision to dismiss Flick was reportedly influenced by the recommendation of one of the assistant referees, rather than being directly observed by Muniz Ruiz himself.
Will Barcelona take action?
El gesto que le costó la expulsión a Hansi Flick en el Villamarín 🟥#Super8 pic.twitter.com/iqyxGuIdmi
— DAZN España (@DAZN_ES) December 9, 2024
The red card places Barcelona in a challenging position as they await the disciplinary action that may follow.
According to Article 127 of the Disciplinary Code, protesting against match officials can result in a suspension ranging from two to three matches or even up to one month.
This has prompted Barcelona to take action indefence of their coach. As reported before, the club has decided to submit formal allegations to the Competition Committee in an attempt to overturn the decision.
This incident adds another layer of tension for Barcelona, who are going through a challenging La Liga campaign.
With the possibility of their manager being sidelined for multiple matches, the club is eager to ensure that justice prevails, especially given the seemingly disproportionate nature of the dismissal.
Whether the Competition Committee will accept Barcelona’s appeal remains to be seen, but the outcome will undoubtedly have significant implications for the team in the coming weeks.