Barcelona’s
Barcelona’s dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Levante will be remembered for its thrilling goals, but Pedri’s post-match comments have thrown the spotlight firmly onto refereeing decisions and the ongoing confusion surrounding handball rules.
Speaking after the game, the midfielder didn’t mince words when asked about the incident involving Alejandro Balde, whose handball led to heated protests. “Honestly, I don’t know,” Pedri admitted. “A short while ago, the federation gave us a lecture about handballs, and for example, Tchouaméni’s handball last season in Montjuïc… that was, for me, a CLEAR HANDBALL. This one, for me, wasn’t, yet they called it.”
His remarks immediately set social media ablaze, with fans of rival clubs rushing to weigh in. For some, Pedri’s honesty highlights how inconsistent interpretations of the law are damaging the credibility of officiating in La Liga. For others, it’s simply another example of Barcelona feeling hard done by, even in victory.
The incident came in a game where Barça needed a big response after a lackluster first half. Levante led 2-0 at the break, but the Catalans roared back with three second-half goals to snatch all three points. The win will provide relief for Xavi and his squad, yet the narrative quickly shifted from the comeback to the controversy.
Pedri’s reference to Tchouaméni’s infamous Montjuïc handball is also telling, reopening wounds from a decision many Blaugrana supporters felt went against them last season. By contrasting the two moments, the 21-year-old has put the referees under even greater scrutiny
For neutral fans, the drama only adds to the spectacle. For La Liga, however, the ongoing confusion over what constitutes a handball may prove far harder to fix than Barcelona’s first-half struggles.
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