Former referee Mateu Lahoz has expressed his belief that Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia should have faced disciplinary action for a controversial incident involving teammate Gerard Martin during their recent match against Espanyol. The game took place at the RCDE Stadium on January 3, 2026, where Barcelona emerged victorious.
Garcia had an impressive performance, earning the MVP award after making several key saves. However, his actions during the first half raised eyebrows when he was seen pushing Martin in an attempt to block a shot from Pere Milla. This moment drew Lahoz’s attention, leading him to analyze the incident on the sports program aired by Movistar.
Lahoz stated, “This is stipulated by FIFA as unsportsmanlike conduct. We’re going to look at all the actions where, it’s true he wants to get away to block, but he can’t do this.” He elaborated that pushing a teammate to the point of potential injury is against the rules of the game.
Referring to the use of VAR (Video Assistant Referee), Lahoz pointed out that it would not be applicable in this scenario. “Although VAR can’t help you, it’s not in the scenario where it can help because it would be an indirect free kick and, in this case, a yellow card,” he explained. He suggested that the match referee, García Verdura, likely interpreted the incident as an accidental collision while both players vied for space.
The official’s viewpoint on the play has been captured in footage released by the RFEF. Verdura can be heard saying, “there is nothing, there is nothing, it is him that pushes him, there is nothing,” before checking with Martin on his condition. He added, “Gerard, how are we? Your goalkeeper pushes you. If your goalkeeper pushes you, it’s the other player’s fault.”
This incident has reignited discussions about player safety and the interpretation of rules in football, highlighting the fine line referees walk in making split-second decisions. As the analysis continues, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how similar situations are handled in future matches.
