Analyzing Gil Manzano’s long-standing feud with Barcelona over the years – Report | OneFootball

It is not often that a referee tries to assume main-character status in a football match, but on the occasions that he does, it generally does not end well for one of the two teams. The less said about a referee after a game, the better his display was.

Last night, at the Reale Arena, Gil Manzano went full monty with his performance, directly hampering FC Barcelona’s chances of getting a favourable result against Real Sociedad. His efforts, along with the frame of the goal and an imperious Alex Remiro, brought to an end a streak of eleven straight victories for Hansi Flick’s side.

After the game, much was said about the 41-year-old referee’s antics. Now, a report from SPORT has outlined Manzano’s long-standing feud with Barcelona and the number of decisions that have gone against the club.

In the most recent Barcelona–Girona derby, Manzano was at the centre of it all, disallowing a goal by Pau Cubarsi for a questionable foul by Eric Garcia, failing to give a penalty for an elbow on Rashford, and ultimately sending off Hansi Flick, preventing him from being on the touchline for El Clasico.

The referee showed him a first yellow card for protesting about the little added time on the night, then sent him off for applauding Frenkie de Jong, assuming it was meant sarcastically towards his decision. Flick expressed his disappointment after the game, in no uncertain terms:

“For me, football is emotion. Today we won by expending more energy than expected. In the end, it’s about pure emotion. Scoring that goal was fantastic. The celebration wasn’t aimed at anyone; it was just an expression of tension, of how you experience such an intense match. I’m happy; it wasn’t against anyone. I tried to talk to the referee, but he didn’t want to engage. He went his way, and I accepted it. That’s all I can say. It hurts not being able to be alongside the team in the Clásico.”

Even president Joan Laporta hit out at Manzano on that occasion. He said:

“I didn’t like the referee’s attitude. This gentleman has sent off almost all of our standout players; he has a history with us that speaks for itself. Something always happens. Coincidentally, it’s right before a match that will decide the league leadership.”

Gil Manzano also has an illustrious track record of sending off Barcelona players on multiple occasions. He gave Lewandowski the only red card of his Blaugrana career for touching his nose, resulting in a three-match ban.

He is also responsible for the only red card Lionel Messi received during his long Barcelona career. He sent off Neymar and Luis Suarez in controversial circumstances, during Luis Enrique’s time as manager.

He is the referee under whom the Catalan club has suffered their most defeats: 9 losses in 45 matches. Barcelona have 28 wins and eight draws in the remaining fixtures. 38% of the matches he has officiated have seen the Catalan club leave without the three points.

Manzano has also shown Barcelona the most red cards: 7 straight reds and 4 second-yellow sendings-off. The numbers paint a damning picture of what the Catalan club has had to endure in games officiated by the 41-year-old.

There is not much else to discuss. The facts and numbers speak for themselves, and this does not look like a trend that will stop unless the RFEF make an effort to rectify the situation. Only time will tell how much more Barcelona will suffer, thanks to him.