Barcelona is gearing up for a crucial match against Girona on Monday, which could determine whether they maintain their position at the top of the league table or fall behind Real Madrid. However, the Catalan club’s preparations have been overshadowed by ongoing concerns regarding officiating, particularly with the appointment of referee Cesar Soto Grado for the game.
Soto Grado’s selection has raised alarms within the Barcelona squad, especially following recent contentious decisions, including the disallowed goal by Pau Cubarsí in the match against Atletico Madrid that led to an official complaint from the club. His history with Barcelona has been rocky, boasting a mixed record—seven wins, three draws, and six losses across 16 matches officiated.
This marks the third occasion this season that Soto Grado will preside over a Barcelona match, with his previous officiating drawing criticism during a heated Madrid derby in November. In that game, he controversially sent off Pedri and awarded a penalty against Eric Garcia for a handball, which was notably saved. He had also initially signaled for a penalty in favor of Vinicius Junior, only for VAR to overturn the decision after it was determined that the player had dived.
Soto Grado’s officiating is stained by several high-profile disputes, such as his failure to award what many considered a legitimate goal to Lamine Yamal during the 2023-24 Clasico. Last season, he disallowed a Joao Felix goal due to a debated offside ruling and presided over a goalless draw where Raphinha’s dismissal overshadowed the match. Furthermore, in a prior encounter under Ronald Koeman, he controversially awarded a penalty against Frenkie de Jong, furthering the mistrust surrounding his officiating.
As Barcelona prepares for this significant encounter at Montilivi, the performance of Soto Grado will undoubtedly be scrutinized closely by players, fans, and pundits alike, adding an extra layer of pressure to an already critical match for the reigning champions.