Barcelona learned on Thursday who will officiate their upcoming match against Celta Vigo, and the announcement has raised concerns among the club’s supporters. The referee for the game, scheduled for Saturday night at Balaídos, will be César Soto Grado.
Soto Grado has been involved in several controversial decisions in matches involving Barcelona over the past couple of seasons. During the 2023/24 campaign, his officiating sparked frustration among Barcelona fans in matches against Getafe, Granada, and Real Madrid. More recently, in late August, he faced criticism after a questionable decision led to Robert Lewandowski’s goal being disallowed in Barcelona’s win over Rayo Vallecano, which was attributed to an alleged foul by Jules Koundé.
Given this history, Soto Grado’s appointment for Barcelona’s return to action after the international break has understandably been met with disappointment among the club’s supporters
