Title: FC Barcelona Star Balde Speaks Out About Racist Abuse at Getafe, Briefs Referee
In a recent LaLiga match, FC Barcelona star Alejandro Balde shared an unfortunate experience. During the 1-1 draw against Getafe, Balde experienced racist abuse from the crowd. He brought this to the referee's attention at halftime, leading to the activation of Spain's racism protocol. The left back remained hopeful that such incidents wouldn't continue occurring.[1][2][3]
Barcelona's title race took another hit as they missed an opportunity to close the gap on Atletico Madrid, who slipped up at Leganes. Despite a bright start with Jules Kounde's goal in the ninth minute, Getafe equalized, and the scores remained level until the end.[4]
In the post-match interviews, Balde and midfielder Pedri shared their thoughts on the game. Balde underlined the repetitive nature of these setbacks, stating, "it's happening to us a lot this season."[4]
Pedri, while not directly addressing the racism issue, emphasized the challenges in breaking down Getafe's defense. He lamented Barcelona's inability to convert their opportunities and maintain the first-half lead, which could have significantly impacted the final result.[4]
Fellow Barcelona manager Hansi Flick strongly condemned the racist abuse, emphasizing that there is no place for such behavior in football or society. He urged for a united front against racism.[1][2][3]
Meanwhile, Barcelona president Joan Laporta criticized the referee's decision not to award a penalty to Jules Koundé in the 81st minute, calling it "scandalous." He drew parallels to a previous incident involving Getafe and a penalty awarded against Barcelona.[4]
These incidents underscore the ongoing issue of racism in Spanish football and the various reactions from players, management, and the club.
Atletico Madrid's stumble at Leganes allowed Real Madrid to extend their lead at the top of LaLiga, keeping Barcelona further behind in the title race. Despite Pedri and Balde's impressive performances in the match, Jules Kounde's potential equalizer for Barcelona was denied by a controversial refereeing decision, reminiscent of a previous incident involving Getafe. Regardless of these setbacks, Las Palmas' midfielder Jorge was optimistic about the Blaugrana's chances, stating, "Pedri and Kounde are crucial to Barcelona's resurgence, and their impact will be felt in upcoming fixtures against Leganes and Atletico Madrid."
