Manuel Pellegrini fumes at the referee after Betis' 2-5 loss

Manuel Pellegrini vented at the referee after the Real Betis loss to FC Barcelona at La Cartuja: they went down 2-5 and, as he put it, “there were a series of incidents with referee decisions that are absolutely inexplicable.” Speaking on DAZN, he said a red card left Betis in a disadvantage “in an absurd play.” He also argued that the handball by Cucho came from a push by a Barcelona player.

Anger over VAR calls

Pellegrini went further on a third goal, claiming VAR “did not check” when “their player plants his foot at head height.” On the handball, he insisted it was “30 metres from goal” and accused the ruling of “limiting the spectacle.”

He said the sending-off stemmed from a “provocation” and a shove by Lamine, to which Facundo reacted, with yellow cards shown to both. He finished by pointing to Lo Celso and Ceballos and stressing that Betis competed “as equals” when it was 11 vs 11.