BARCELONA: Coach Hansi Flick was sent off for protesting a penalty decision and Barcelona was held at Real Betis to 2-2 in La Liga on Saturday.
Flick disagreed with the referee’s decision to grant a penalty following a video review when Betis forward Vitor Roque fell in the area following a brush with Frenkie de Jong.
Giovani Lo Celso converted the 66th-minute penalty to level the score after Robert Lewandowski put the visitors ahead in the 38th.
Substitute Ferran Torres scored from a pass by Lamine Yamal to put Barcelona back in front in the 82nd, but Assane Diao struck in injury time to secure the draw for Betis.
Barcelona have dropped points in four of the last five rounds. The league leader are five points ahead of Real Madrid, which has two games in hand.
Flick sent off for protesting penalty in Barcelona draw at Betis
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Flick sent off for protesting penalty in Barcelona draw at Betis
- Flick disagreed with the referee’s decision to grant a penalty
Palestinian refugees’ football pitch saved after UEFA president intervenes
DUBAI: A football pitch used by Palestinian refugees in the West Bank was saved from demolition after Aleksander Ceferin, the president of European football’s governing body UEFA, stepped in.
The Aida refugee camp, located outside Bethlehem, was due to be demolished. Israeli media said the decision was made by the Central Command due to security reasons based on its location.
However, The Guardian reported that Israel Defense Forces said the pitch was built unlawfully.
Now, however, it seems the pitch has been saved. A statement from UEFA said: “We can confirm that the UEFA president has been in contact with the Israel Football Federation regarding the preservation of a football pitch in a refugee camp in the West Bank.”
The IFA was facing scrutiny from international football organizations and was allegedly on the verge of being banned from taking part in UEFA competitions.
