Referee César Soto Grado, the undisputed protagonist of the controversial Girona-Barcelona match that ended in a 2-1 victory for the home side at Montilivi, has taken an unprecedented step in his career: he has officially apologized to Barcelona fans for some of the decisions he made during the game. After reviewing the match footage in detail, the referee from La Rioja admitted to being “deeply sorry” for certain calls that, as he himself acknowledges, may have influenced the outcome of the match, which was part of LaLiga EA Sports Matchday 24.

The central incident of the controversy was Girona’s second goal, scored by Fran Beltrán, which was preceded by a clear foul by Claudio Echeverri on Jules Koundé. The French defender touched the ball first, but received an obvious stamp on his ankle that referee Soto Grado failed to penalize at the time, and the VAR—operated by David Gálvez—also failed to intervene to call the referee to the monitor.

This omission has even been described by the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) as a serious error: the VAR should have alerted the referee to review the play and, if the infraction was confirmed, disallowed the goal that turned the game around.

Soto Grado, in a statement released through official channels and widely circulated in the media and on social networks, expressed: “I have carefully reviewed the footage and acknowledge that some of my decisions were incorrect. I am deeply sorry for the impact they may have had on the match and on FC Barcelona fans. I sincerely apologize to the players, the club, and especially to the supporters who feel that justice was not served.”

This public apology, which few referees have offered in recent Spanish football, has generated mixed reactions: while some see it as a gesture of humility and professionalism, most Barcelona fans consider it insufficient and belated.

The apologies have not quelled the outrage that has erupted in Catalonia and among Barça fans worldwide. On social media, hashtags like #SotoGradoResign, #ShamefulRefereeing, and #RobberyAtMontilivi trended for hours, with thousands of comments demanding drastic measures. Players like Raphinha and other members of the dressing room hinted at their displeasure without directly naming the referee, while Hansi Flick, in the post-match press conference, avoided blaming the referee but admitted that the official’s explanations at the end of the match did not entirely convince him. “We all saw the situation.

“If we had played better, perhaps I would talk more, but I don’t want it to sound like I’m complaining,” commented the German coach, focusing on the team’s self-criticism.

The strongest blow has come from the board. Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona, ​​was quick to react and has filed a formal complaint with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Technical Committee of Referees. In the document, the club requests a “complete review of César Soto Grado’s refereeing performance” in the match against Girona, as well as the opening of a “thorough investigation” into the decisions that, in Barça’s opinion, directly influenced the result.

Laporta went even further in statements to media outlets close to the club: “There are decisions that cannot be tolerated in a league of this caliber. It’s not just an isolated error; there’s a pattern that systematically harms us when we play away. We demand transparency and fairness so that LaLiga can be credible.”

This latest refereeing incident reignites the perennial debate about impartiality in Spanish football, especially concerning Barcelona. Soto Grado has a controversial record with the Catalan club: he has officiated 16 Barça matches, only two at home (87.5% away), and several contentious precedents, such as the disallowed Barça goal in a previous match for a similar stamp by Koundé—precisely the same play, but with the opposite interpretation.

The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has internally acknowledged that VAR failed by not intervening, but for the fans, that’s not enough: they demand accountability and, in many cases, sanctions or exclusion from future matches.

The sporting impact is enormous. The defeat at Montilivi cost Barcelona the LaLiga lead, which is now held by Real Madrid. Flick’s team is clearly going through a rough patch—a loss of intensity, defensive errors on the counter-attack, and a lack of effectiveness—but the refereeing has served as a spark, multiplying the frustration.

Club sources assure that this complaint isn’t just about this match, but about an accumulation of errors that, according to internal data, place Barça as the team most harmed by refereeing decisions and VAR errors so far this season.

Meanwhile, Girona is celebrating a well-deserved victory based on their play—they created numerous chances and made the most of their opportunities—but the media spotlight has shifted almost entirely to the referee. Echeverri himself, who committed the uncalled foul, has avoided commenting, although in the Girona dressing room they acknowledge that the controversy has somewhat overshadowed their victory.

What’s next? The RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation) and the CTA (Technical Committee of Referees) have Laporta’s complaint on their desks, and an official response is expected in the coming days. Soto Grado, for his part, could face a disciplinary review or, at the very least, a more detailed public explanation. For Barcelona, ​​the objective is clear: to recover points on the pitch and demand refereeing that doesn’t influence their title hopes. The fans, indignant but united, will not easily forget tonight at Montilivi.

Spanish football, once again, is shaken by the shadow of refereeing. Soto Grado’s apology opens a door to dialogue, but calming the Barcelona storm will require much more than words. The battle for sporting justice continues, and the Camp Nou is already waiting for concrete answers.