Barcelona vs Girona: Controversial Referee Soto Grado Assigned to Must-Win Match

Barcelona Face Referee Concerns Ahead of Crucial Girona Clash

Barcelona are preparing for a pivotal match against Girona on Monday, February 16, 2026, with the stakes particularly high as a loss could see them relinquish their position atop the La Liga table to rivals Real Madrid. However, concerns are mounting within the club following the appointment of César Soto Grado as the match official.

The appointment comes at a sensitive time for Barcelona, who recently filed a formal complaint regarding refereeing decisions after a controversial match against Atlético Madrid. Now, the assignment of Soto Grado has reignited anxieties within the Blaugrana camp.

According to SPORT Diary, the appointment has immediately raised concern within the Barcelona dressing room. Soto Grado has a history with the club marked by contentious decisions and a statistical anomaly regarding the location of Barcelona’s matches under his officiating.

The referee has overseen 16 Barcelona matches, but a striking 87.5% of those games have been played away from Camp Nou. This contrasts sharply with his record with Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid, where he has officiated an equal number of home and away matches.

Soto Grado’s history with Barcelona is filled with disputed calls. His overall record with the club stands at seven wins, three draws, and six defeats. This past includes incidents such as a disallowed goal for Joao Felix due to a debated offside call, and a scoreless draw against Getafe marred by the dismissal of Raphinha.

During a match against Getafe in the 2020-21 campaign, Soto Grado refused to award a late penalty to Ronald Araujo, a decision widely criticized as questionable. He also sent off Pedri and awarded a penalty against Eric Garcia (which was subsequently saved) during a November fixture against Real Madrid. That same match saw a penalty awarded for a perceived foul on Vinicius Junior overturned by VAR after it was determined the Brazilian forward had dived.

More recently, during the 2023-24 Clasico, Soto Grado failed to award a goal to Lamine Yamal, a decision that sparked significant debate. The disallowed goal against Atletico Madrid, prompting Barcelona’s formal complaint, further fueled concerns about his officiating.

This will be the third time Soto Grado has officiated Hansi Flick’s side this season. The upcoming match against Girona at Montilivi will undoubtedly be closely scrutinized, with Barcelona hoping for a fair and impartial assessment from the controversial referee. The performance of Soto Grado will be a key focus for Barcelona as they aim to maintain their position at the top of La Liga.