Iñigo Pérez Slams Officiating After Rayo Vallecano’s Controversial Loss to Barcelona
Rayo Vallecano head coach Iñigo Pérez voiced his frustration over refereeing decisions following his team’s 1-0 defeat to FC Barcelona, hinting at a systemic bias in favor of the Catalan giants. His remarks come amid growing scrutiny over officiating in La Liga’s title race.
The match, decided by a Robert Lewandowski penalty, saw Rayo Vallecano have two strong penalty appeals dismissed, while Barcelona was awarded a spot-kick under similar circumstances. Midfielder Pathé Ciss took to social media to express his discontent, sarcastically highlighting the perceived inconsistency.
Pérez did not hold back in his post-match comments, claiming, “The league is dangerously rigged for Barcelona over Madrid.” He argued that repeated favorable calls for Barcelona distort the competition and impact clubs like Real Madrid in the title race. His frustration echoes previous complaints from Real Madrid, who protested officiating decisions in a controversial 3-3 draw against Rayo earlier in the season.
Barcelona’s players, however, have dismissed these claims. Rising star Lamine Yamal stated, “Neither Barça, nor Real Madrid, nor Atlético can complain about refereeing,” insisting that all top teams experience both favorable and unfavorable calls.
With tensions rising, clubs are calling for greater transparency and consistency in officiating, hoping to ensure that La Liga’s title race is determined by performances on the pitch rather than contentious refereeing decisions.
