RFEF issues warnings to Barcelona and Athletic Club following delays in La Liga game | OneFootball

Still recovering from a 3-0 loss at the hands of Chelsea, Barcelona’s week might just have gotten even more frustrating.

That is because the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has decided to crack down on both Barça and Athletic Club in light of their unprecedented delay in last weekend’s league contest.

The federation has issued a formal warning to both Barcelona and Athletic Club for unjustifiable delays to the match start times, reports Mundo Deportivo.

A closer look at the incidents

Referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez detailed two specific instances of tardiness in his match report.

The first instance was that the match began six minutes late, a delay attributed to Athletic Club players remaining in the dressing room.

Flick could face a steep fine if Barcelona commit the mistake again. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the restart at half-time was delayed by three minutes, this time due to Hansi Flick’s side arriving late to the pitch.

In its resolution, the Competition Committee of RFEF has opted for a lenient approach, as they have simply issued a warning without penalising either of the clubs.

Repeating the offence could be costly

However, repeating the same delay in another game this season may have serious ramifications for both clubs.

As per the report, if Barcelona repeat this offence, the club will face a fine of up to €3,000.

But more worryingly, a repeat offence is considered an “improper action by the head coach,” which would result in an automatic suspension of 1 to 3 matches for Hansi Flick.

This is not something Barcelona have afford right now, especially at this crucial juncture of the season, where the German’s guidance becomes integral.

For now, Flick escapes the punishment, but that just means the German tactician needs to ensure Barcelona players do not commit the mistake once again.