Barcelona coach Hansi Flick showed his anger at the harassment of La Liga referees on Friday, after weeks of complaints from title rivals Real Madrid about Spanish arbitration.<o:p></o:p>
Los Blancos sent a letter to the Spanish football federation complaining officiating in the country was "rigged" and referee Jose Munuera Montero faced abuse on social media this week after sending off Madrid's Jude Bellingham.<o:p></o:p>
Champions Real Madrid have attacked Spanish referees consistently on their club television channel this season and coach Carlo Ancelotti said he prefers officiating in the Champions League.<o:p></o:p>
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"The referees at the moment, what they are doing here in Spain with them is unbelievable," Flick told a news conference, bringing up the matter of his own accord. "You have to think about the families of the referees, all of us make mistakes, and if it happened in a match I think it's the responsibility of the coaches and the players to protect them.<o:p></o:p>
"I don't like that, we're always using our energy to discuss (them)... we have to trust in them, and I think the federation has to show how strong they are."<o:p></o:p>
The Spanish football federation said Friday the slogan "Respect the referee, respect football" will be used ahead of matches this weekend.<o:p></o:p>
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was banned for two matches this week after showing dissent to referee Jose Munuera Montero during his team's 1-1 draw at Osasuna last weekend.<o:p></o:p>
Bellingham was sent off and Madrid's appeal against his ban was rejected Friday, meaning he will not be available for Los Blancos on Sunday against Girona.<o:p></o:p>
"Bellingham is an excellent player, one of the best in his position, and he's not my player, so I don't have anything to say about that," continued Flick.<o:p></o:p>
The former Bayern Munich coach said referees should be protected.<o:p></o:p>
"We always look for excuses, if we lose it's the referee's fault... I say, everyone makes mistakes, I do too and maybe a referee...<o:p></o:p>
"We have to protect the match because we cannot play without referees, so this is what we have to do."<o:p></o:p>
Barcelona pulled level on points with Real Madrid on Monday with a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano but lead the lead on goal difference, ahead of their visit to Las Palmas on Saturday.<o:p></o:p>
Madrid have been criticising officials for months on their television channel but stepped up their complaints after Espanyol defender Carlos Romero was not sent off for fouling Kylian Mbappe when the sides met on February 1 in La Liga.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Football: Madrid have attacked Spanish referees consistently on their club television channel and coach Ancelotti said he prefers officiating in the Champions League.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick showed his anger at the harassment of La Liga referees on Friday, after weeks of complaints from title rivals Real Madrid about Spanish arbitration. Los Blancos sent a letter to the Spanish football federation complaining officiating in the country was "rigged" and referee Jose Munuera Montero faced abuse on social media this week after sending off Madrid's Jude Bellingham. Champions Real Madrid have attacked Spanish referees consistently on their club television channel this season and coach Carlo Ancelotti said he prefers officiating in the Champions League. Also read | Champions League Draw: Liverpool to face PSG in last 16; Real Madrid up against Atletico "The referees at the moment, what they are doing here in Spain with them is unbelievable," Flick told a news conference, bringing up the matter of his own accord. "You have to think about the families of the referees, all of us make mistakes, and if it happened in a match I think it's the responsibility of the coaches and the players to protect them. "I don't like that, we're always using our energy to discuss (them)... we have to trust in them, and I think the federation has to show how strong they are." The Spanish football federation said Friday the slogan "Respect the referee, respect football" will be used ahead of matches this weekend. Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was banned for two matches this week after showing dissent to referee Jose Munuera Montero during his team's 1-1 draw at Osasuna last weekend. Bellingham was sent off and Madrid's appeal against his ban was rejected Friday, meaning he will not be available for Los Blancos on Sunday against Girona. "Bellingham is an excellent player, one of the best in his position, and he's not my player, so I don't have anything to say about that," continued Flick. The former Bayern Munich coach said referees should be protected. "We always look for excuses, if we lose it's the referee's fault... I say, everyone makes mistakes, I do too and maybe a referee... "We have to protect the match because we cannot play without referees, so this is what we have to do." Barcelona pulled level on points with Real Madrid on Monday with a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano but lead the lead on goal difference, ahead of their visit to Las Palmas on Saturday. Madrid have been criticising officials for months on their television channel but stepped up their complaints after Espanyol defender Carlos Romero was not sent off for fouling Kylian Mbappe when the sides met on February 1 in La Liga. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

La Liga: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick upset over referee harassment by Real Madrid

A former football chief in Turkey's Super Lig was sentenced to more than three years in prison Monday over an on-pitch attack on a referee, the Anadolu news agency reported. The incident occurred in December 2023 following a 1-1 draw between Ankara's MKA Ankaragucu and visiting Caykur Rizespor in Turkey's top flight.

Footage from the scene showed Ankaragucu's then president Faruk Koca rushing onto the pitch and punching referee Halil Umut Meler after he blew the final whistle, shouting: "I'm going to kill you!"

He appeared to be incensed over the ref's decision to send off one of his players, and disallowing an earlier goal by Ankaragucu. Caykur had scored an equaliser in injury time.

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Denouncing the attack as "despicable", the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended Super Lig matches for eight days and initiated criminal proceedings against Koca and several others.

Several days later, Koca apologised and resigned as club president but insisted his team had been cheated by the referee.

The court on Monday handed him three years and seven months for "intentional injury to a public sports official" as well as six months and 20 days for "making threats".

It also handed him a five-month suspended sentence for "violating the law on violence prevention in sports".

During the incident, the referee -- who fell to the ground after being punched -- was also kicked several times by other club officials, leaving him with a head trauma.

The court also handed prison sentences to three other officials for causing, or trying to cause, "intentional injury" to a public sports official, with sentences ranging from one to five years behind bars.

The incident provoked uproar in Turkey and a flurry of condemnation, including from FIFA, football's world governing body.

Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

A former football chief in Turkey's Super Lig was sentenced to more than three years in prison Monday over an on-pitch attack on a referee, the Anadolu news agency reported.

A former football chief in Turkey's Super Lig was sentenced to more than three years in prison Monday over an on-pitch attack on a referee, the Anadolu news agency reported. The incident occurred in December 2023 following a 1-1 draw between Ankara's MKA Ankaragucu and visiting Caykur Rizespor in Turkey's top flight. Footage from the scene showed Ankaragucu's then president Faruk Koca rushing onto the pitch and punching referee Halil Umut Meler after he blew the final whistle, shouting: "I'm going to kill you!" He appeared to be incensed over the ref's decision to send off one of his players, and disallowing an earlier goal by Ankaragucu. Caykur had scored an equaliser in injury time. ALSO READ: Injuries rock Barcelona as Robert Lewandowski out for 10 days, Lamine Yamal up to three weeks Denouncing the attack as "despicable", the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended Super Lig matches for eight days and initiated criminal proceedings against Koca and several others. Several days later, Koca apologised and resigned as club president but insisted his team had been cheated by the referee. The court on Monday handed him three years and seven months for "intentional injury to a public sports official" as well as six months and 20 days for "making threats". It also handed him a five-month suspended sentence for "violating the law on violence prevention in sports". During the incident, the referee -- who fell to the ground after being punched -- was also kicked several times by other club officials, leaving him with a head trauma. The court also handed prison sentences to three other officials for causing, or trying to cause, "intentional injury" to a public sports official, with sentences ranging from one to five years behind bars. The incident provoked uproar in Turkey and a flurry of condemnation, including from FIFA, football's world governing body. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Ex-Turkey football club chief sentenced over on-field attack on referee

Argentina great Lionel Messi once escaped a yellow card in exchange for his jersey. Former football referee Carlos Chandia admitted informing Messi of not charging him for a handball offence during the 2007 Copa America semis clash against Mexico. Messi was already booked (with one yellow card) for an offence, and if he had gotten another, he could have missed the final. &nbsp;

In a chat with ESPN on the FShow, the former referee revealed telling Messi of getting away from a second yellow but at his jersey’s cost.

‘This is a yellow card, but it will cost you your jersey,’ and I didn’t show him the yellow card,” Chandia said per multiple outlets.

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During the semis clash, Argentina led the game by 3-0, with goals coming from Gabriel Heinze, Roman Riquelme and Messi. However, just before the final whistle, Messi fouled with a handball, with Argentina facing a potential threat of losing their emerging superstar for the final.

“There were two-and-a-half minutes left, and the score was 3-0. Showing him a yellow card would have taken away his chance of playing in the Copa America final,” the former referee said while noting the importance of the second yellow card.

Detailing what happened further and if Messi even obliged&nbsp;the referee's offer, Chandia said Messi gave him his jersey inside the dressing room; in fact, he wanted to give it on the field, but the referee denied it for obvious reasons.

“He gave me the shirt in the dressing room afterwards. In fact, he wanted to take it off on the pitch, and I told him: ‘No, no, no, no; take it to the dressing room’. And he came to the dressing room with the jersey and left it there for me,” Chandia continued.

<h2>Argentina lost, and so did Chandia</h2>

Fortunately, Chandia’s decision to let Messi escape his second yellow card did not directly impact the final’s result as Brazil proved costly for Argentina, with Julio Baptista, Roberto Ayala and Dani Alves scoring for the eventual winners.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, several years later, Lionel Messi emerged as the most decorated footballer ever, with 45 trophies – the most by any player in the game’s history.&nbsp;

Besides winning Copa America several times since, Messi guided Argentina to its third World Cup title in 2022, where they beat France in a penalty shootout.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Argentina great Lionel Messi once escaped a yellow card in exchange for his jersey. Former football referee Carlos Chandia admitted informing Messi of not charging him for a handball offence during the 2007 Copa America semis clash against Mexico.

Argentina great Lionel Messi once escaped a yellow card in exchange for his jersey. Former football referee Carlos Chandia admitted informing Messi of not charging him for a handball offence during the 2007 Copa America semis clash against Mexico. Messi was already booked (with one yellow card) for an offence, and if he had gotten another, he could have missed the final. In a chat with ESPN on the FShow, the former referee revealed telling Messi of getting away from a second yellow but at his jersey’s cost. ‘This is a yellow card, but it will cost you your jersey,’ and I didn’t show him the yellow card,” Chandia said per multiple outlets. ALSO READ: Premier League: Ange Postecoglou defends Dominic Solanke after slow start to Spurs career During the semis clash, Argentina led the game by 3-0, with goals coming from Gabriel Heinze, Roman Riquelme and Messi. However, just before the final whistle, Messi fouled with a handball, with Argentina facing a potential threat of losing their emerging superstar for the final. “There were two-and-a-half minutes left, and the score was 3-0. Showing him a yellow card would have taken away his chance of playing in the Copa America final,” the former referee said while noting the importance of the second yellow card. Detailing what happened further and if Messi even obliged the referee's offer, Chandia said Messi gave him his jersey inside the dressing room; in fact, he wanted to give it on the field, but the referee denied it for obvious reasons. “He gave me the shirt in the dressing room afterwards. In fact, he wanted to take it off on the pitch, and I told him: ‘No, no, no, no; take it to the dressing room’. And he came to the dressing room with the jersey and left it there for me,” Chandia continued. Argentina lost, and so did Chandia Fortunately, Chandia’s decision to let Messi escape his second yellow card did not directly impact the final’s result as Brazil proved costly for Argentina, with Julio Baptista, Roberto Ayala and Dani Alves scoring for the eventual winners. Meanwhile, several years later, Lionel Messi emerged as the most decorated footballer ever, with 45 trophies – the most by any player in the game’s history. Besides winning Copa America several times since, Messi guided Argentina to its third World Cup title in 2022, where they beat France in a penalty shootout. (With inputs from agencies)

Lionel Messi escaped yellow card in exchange for jersey during 2007 Copa America, reveals former referee

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