After CL exit

“Disaster! Disgrace!” Tantrum from red card offender Xavi

Barca coach Xavi complained to the referee.

(Bild: APA/AFP/FRANCK FIFE)

A night to forget: FC Barcelona lost the second leg at home to Paris St. Germain, who booked their place in the semi-finals with a 4:1 win (6:4 on aggregate). Coach Xavi got into an argument with the referee and was sent off. "There's no point discussing the game. The referee ruined everything. I told him he was very bad. It's a disaster," the Spaniard grumbled after the game.

Xavi referred to the key scene of the game, when Ronald Araujos was shown the red card in the 29th minute for an emergency brake against Bradley Barcola. After the break, Xavi and his assistant José de la Fuente were also sent to the stands for loudly complaining about referee Istvan Kovacs. Xavi is even said to have shouted "H****sohn" in the direction of the referee.

Xavi shouted in the direction of the referee.

(Bild: APA/AFP/FRANCK FIFE)

The referee destroyed everything. I told him he was very bad. It's a disaster. He's killed this knockout round.

Barca-Coach Xavi

"It's a disgrace"
Afterwards, there was no stopping the Barca coach in front of the TV microphones. "I'm annoyed and angry. For me, the red card is far too much. It was a different game after that. It's very difficult with ten men. It's a shame that the work of an entire season ends because of one refereeing decision. That was unnecessary," raged the Spaniard.

He continued: "There's no point discussing the game. The referee ruined everything. I told him he was very bad. It's a disaster. He killed this knockout round. I don't like talking about referees, but we have to talk it out. We can't remain silent."

Barca must therefore continue to wait for their first semi-final appearance in the Champions League since 2019. And for Xavi, the final months before his departure from the Catalans in the summer begin.