Hansi Flick Condemns Wrong VAR Decision When Losing To Real Sociedad

Hansi Flick did not accept Robert Lewandowski's goal annulled (Instagram/@fcbarcelona).

JAKARTA - Barcelona suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat when they visited Real Sociedad headquarters, Reale Arena, in the 13th week of La Liga 2024/2025, Monday, November 11, 2024, early morning WIB.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick criticized the wrong decision when he ruled out Robert Lewandowski's goal for offside.

Lewandowski thought he had opened the scoring in the 14th minute. However, semi-automatic offside (SAOT) technology, introduced in Spain at the start of the season, ruled that the striker's toe was slightly more advanced than the leg of La Real defender Nayef Aguerd.

The hosts then won the match through Sheraldo Becker's goal. Sociedad's victory ended Azulgrana's seven consecutive victories in all competitions.

At the same time, Barcelona got the worst record of the game because they failed to score in one game for the first time this season.

"It was the wrong decision, obviously. I saw the picture. Obviously, obviously, but we have to accept it."

"It's not the referee's fault. In the end, we are human, we made mistakes, and today is a big mistake," Flick told Barca One after the game.

SAOT is not universally used across Europe. Italian Serie A is the first major league to implement it

The Premier League intends to introduce it, but its UK launch has been postponed as testing is still ongoing.

Flick insisted that the technology failed in Lewandowski's goal. He expressed his opinion to the referee in the first half and refused to say he was angry.

"It's not too angry. I just told the referee that it was a goal, it was the wrong decision, it wasn't offside."

"However, it wasn't his fault. We have to accept it. If the score was 1-0 for us, it would be a different game. In the end, it was different and it wasn't our day."

"In the end, it was a defeat. However, the match before and after the last break was fantastic. I really appreciate the team and what they did," said Flick again.

Barca's second defeat in La Liga this season came as Lamine Yamal watched from the stands. He had bruises on his ankle in a midweek Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade.

The 17-year-old, who has scored six goals and eight assists in 16 appearances this season, also did not start when Barca lost their first La Liga to Osasuna in September 2024.

Flick added that Barcelona doctors and the Spanish national team will now decide whether Yamal will join La Roja for the match against Denmark and Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League.

"I thought it would be easy to say that we lost because Lamine wasn't there."

"Of course quality players like Lamine, every team will miss him. But, in the end, we started well."

"I think that goal, what I can say is the wrong decision, of course, but we have to accept it."

"After La Real's goal, we had a bit of trouble. I don't think today was our day."

"In the attack, we didn't have a clear chance to score. We made the wrong decision in the final third. We have to accept it today," said Flick.

Meanwhile, the defeat to Real Sociedad left Barcelona's lead at the top of La Liga with a six-point lead over Real Madrid who were in second place.

Azulgrana will again try to stay away from Los Blancos' pursuit when they travel to Celta Vigo headquarters after the international break, November 23, 2024.