Former FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has hit out at the refereeing during the club’s 4-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Thursday.
The Blaugrana were handed a drubbing by the Spanish capital club in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, leaving Hansi Flick & co. with a mountain to climb in the second leg next month.
Having conceded four times in the first half, Barça tried to mount a comeback in the second half and seemed to have pulled a goal back through Pau Cubarsi.
However, the goal was ruled out by VAR after as many as seven minutes were taken to make the decision.
Laporta’s message
Laporta, who stepped down as Barcelona president on Monday, to contest in the upcoming elections, showed support to the team while pointing fingers at the refereeing.
“All my support to Hansi Flick, the players, Deco and his team. With the strength of all Barça fans, I’m convinced we have a historic opportunity to pull off a great comeback at the Spotify Camp Nou on 3 March,” Laporta stated.
Tot el meu suport al Hansi Flick, als jugadors, al Deco i el seu equip. Amb la força de tots els culers estic convençut que tenim una oportunitat històrica per realitzar una gran remuntada a l’Spotify Camp Nou el proper 3 de març.
Malauradament ahir vam patir tot un seguit…
— Joan Laporta Estruch (@JoanLaportaFCB) February 13, 2026
Listing out what he felt went wrong for the team on the night, the former president wrote:
“Unfortunately, yesterday we suffered a whole series of setbacks, from a poorly maintained pitch to a wrongly disallowed goal that prevented us from launching a comeback, which is still possible in the return leg if we all unite to support and cheer the team like on those great epic nights we’ve experienced at the Stadium.”
Continuing, he added: “From the disallowed goal to Pau Cubarsí, it’s raining on a wet patch because it reminds us of what they disallowed from Lamine Yamal, also incorrectly, at Anoeta.
“Nothing is innocent. That’s why we must fight against everything and everyone.”
Concluding, Laporta called for unity among the club members and fans:
“Now more than ever, we must stand by our footballers. I ask the members and the entire fanbase to show them the love we have for them and how proud they make us feel by the way they defend our colours.”
“Visca el Barça i visca Catalunya!”