Barcelona’s upcoming La Liga match against Girona on Monday will be officiated by César Soto Grado, a decision that has prompted concern within the club following recent refereeing controversies. The appointment comes at a critical juncture for Barcelona, who entered the weekend leading Real Madrid by a single point but now sit in second place after Madrid’s 4-2 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday, according to CBS Sports.
The concerns stem from a history of contentious decisions made by Soto Grado in Barcelona matches. Diario SPORT reports that the club has a record of seven wins, three draws, and six defeats across 16 matches officiated by Grado. Most recently, a goal by Pau Cubarsí was disallowed during a match against Atletico Madrid, leading to a formal complaint from Barcelona.
This season, Soto Grado has already overseen two Barcelona matches, including a November fixture where he sent off Pedri and awarded a penalty against Eric Garcia – though the penalty was subsequently saved. He also initially awarded a penalty for a foul on Vinicius Junior that was overturned by VAR after it was determined the Real Madrid player had dived.
Past controversies include a disputed disallowed goal by Joao Felix during a 2023-24 Clasico and a scoreless draw at Getafe where Raphinha was dismissed. In that Getafe match, Soto Grado declined to award a late penalty for a foul on Ronald Araujo, a decision widely criticized at the time. A penalty was also awarded against Frenkie de Jong during a defeat to Getafe in the 2020-21 campaign.
The stakes are high for Barcelona as they seek to regain the top spot in La Liga. A win against Girona is crucial following Real Madrid’s recent success. Girona, meanwhile, secured a valuable point against Real Madrid on Friday, drawing 1-1 in a result that favored Barcelona, according to the BBC. The draw left Real Madrid frustrated and handed Barcelona an opportunity to reclaim the league lead.
The match against Girona will be closely watched, not only for its impact on the league standings but also for the performance of Soto Grado. The outcome could significantly influence the title race as the season progresses.
