(DDM) — Spanish La Liga champions FC Barcelona are locked in a tense legal battle to overturn Hansi Flick’s one-match suspension ahead of Sunday’s high-stakes El Clásico clash against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Barcelona filed a formal appeal on Thursday morning with the Appeals Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), contesting the disciplinary ruling handed down after Flick’s controversial red card in the 2-1 defeat to Girona last weekend.
The club’s leadership, led by President Joan Laporta, described the decision as “unfair and inconsistent,” arguing that video evidence contradicts the referee’s report.
According to the official match report submitted by Referee Jesús Gil Manzano, Flick was first booked “for applauding one of my decisions as a sign of protest,” and shown a second yellow card moments later “for a gesture of disapproval after being cautioned.”
Barcelona maintains that Flick’s gestures were misinterpreted and that the referee’s actions were reactionary. “The images clearly show that Hansi Flick’s gestures were not disrespectful,” Laporta said.
“It was a misunderstanding that should never have resulted in a sending-off. The referee waited for Flick’s reaction, which influenced the decision.”
The Sports Disciplinary Committee of the RFEF imposed the one-match ban earlier this week, but the club immediately moved to challenge the ruling, citing procedural errors and lack of justification for the second caution.
If the appeal fails, Flick will be absent from the touchline for one of the most anticipated fixtures in world football, forcing his assistant Marcus Sorg to lead the team from the dugout.
Flick would then be confined to the stands, unable to give tactical instructions or communicate directly with his players.
Sources close to the club told DDM that Barcelona’s legal team is ready to escalate the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) should the Appeals Committee uphold the suspension.
“We are prepared to go all the way,” said a senior club executive. “Flick deserves a fair hearing, especially before a match of such magnitude.”
The tension surrounding the decision has added extra drama to an already heated El Clásico buildup.
Barcelona currently trail league leaders Real Madrid by four points, and a defeat could seriously dent their title ambitions.
Fans have taken to social media under the hashtag #FreeFlick, demanding that the suspension be lifted. Many argue that the punishment reflects growing concerns about inconsistent officiating in La Liga.
Meanwhile, Spanish football analysts believe the RFEF’s Appeals Committee faces intense pressure to make a balanced ruling, as the timing of the ban could influence the competitive integrity of Sunday’s fixture.
Flick’s brief tenure at Barcelona has been marked by both tactical innovation and disciplinary controversy, with the Girona match being his first sending-off since taking charge.
His absence, if confirmed, would be a major psychological blow to the Catalan side, who have struggled with defensive injuries and inconsistent form in recent weeks.
As of Thursday evening, the Appeals Committee had not announced its verdict, but Barcelona remain hopeful that the decision will be overturned in time for the German tactician to take his place on the sidelines when the whistle blows at the Bernabéu.
All eyes now turn to Madrid, and the federation offices, as football’s biggest rivalry faces an unexpected off-field twist.