When the Whistle Roars: Fermin Lopez Takes a Swing at Refereeing After Barcelona’s Defeat

Match fallout and officiating

Fermin Lopez, Barcelona's rising star, mocked the refereeing decisions that shaped the 1-2 loss to Real Sociedad in La Liga's Round 20.

The Catalan side were defeated 2-1 by Sociedad on Sunday amid a series of controversial calls that sparked debate among fans and pundits alike.

Lopez posted on Instagram a story featuring the offside moment that led to Lamine Yamal's goal being ruled out, accompanied by several crying-laughing emojis from the stands to emphasize the frustration.

Beyond the post, he recalled that the same stadium had witnessed a Lewandowski goal disallowed last season for another offside that remained unclear, a memory that fans described as déjà vu in slow motion.

He also shared locker room style images with a caption signaling teammate solidarity: Pride in the squad, they will not be taken down, Viva Barca.

The episode continued as Frenkie de Jong, still visibly heated on the pitch, commented that the referee seems unreachable even for a captain, joking that he warned him about time wasting but only ten seconds were added in the end.

Later, coach Hans Flick joined the chorus, saying that while he is not on the grass, he agrees with Frenkie. He added that he did not want to waste energy engaging with the official, noting that everyone witnessed the performance in question.

Punchlines for a lighter cap: the whistle could start a comedy tour, because every call is a new punchline; and in football, timing matters, but today the timing belonged to the confetti cannon of controversy.