Barça’s VAR Showdown: Barcelona Demands Clarity and a Meeting with the Spanish FA
21 February 2026
Barça's Formal Response to the Refereeing Committee
Barcelona has received an official reply from the refereeing technical committee regarding the club's recent complaint, prompted by the anger within the Catalan leadership over local refereeing decisions.
In the Copa del Rey clash against Atlético Madrid, a defender's goal was ruled out after a Video Review lasting more than six minutes. The delay was attributed to a fault in the semi-automatic offside system, a justification used to explain the lengthy delay in decision-making.
The other incident that fueled Barça's ire involved a late Girona goal by Fran Beltrán in the 90th minute, which came after a clash that left Conde on the ground in visible pain and unable to continue.
By the time the ball had crossed the area where the French defender lay, Ichiveri sent the ball into the net behind goalkeeper Juan García.
According to Cadena SER, Barça had already received the official reply that Saturday after sending a formal letter to the Spanish Football Federation.
The club sent the letter to the federation president, the refereeing technical committee head, the VAR supervisor, and the legal affairs director, expressing deep concern about repeated refereeing decisions that Barça regards as harmful and lacking consistent standards.
Nevertheless, sources indicate the official reply did not satisfy the Catalan delegation, with Barça insisting that VAR in Spain is the "worst in Europe." The club also proposes allowing clubs to request video reviews proactively, as is done in the top tier league run by the federation.
Barça plans to hold an urgent meeting with the Spanish federation to discuss these issues and seek ways to ensure greater consistency and fairness in refereeing decisions.
What’s Next and Why Fans Should Pay Attention
The incident has reignited debates about technology in Spanish football, and the club’s call for a clearer, quicker process could shape future guidelines for VAR use and communications with clubs.
With Barça seeking not just reaction but reform, the sport in Spain could face new discussions about fairness, timing, and the power of video technology in the beautiful game.
Punchline 1: If VAR were a sniper, it would line up the shot and wait six minutes to pull the trigger just to mess with the clock.
Punchline 2: They say good things come to those who wait—VAR proves it: six minutes and counting, folks, for a decision that probably changes the post-match interview too.
