Barcelona have on Thursday learned the identity of the referee for their upcoming meeting with Celta Vigo.
And the news has since sparked widespread concern across the fanbase of the Blaugrana.
This comes amid confirmation that César Soto Grado has been tasked with overseeing proceedings at Balaídos on Saturday night.
Soto Grado, for his part, has been at the heart of a number of controversy-strewn fixtures involving Barcelona over the course of the last couple of seasons.
In 2023/24, the official drew the wrath of the Barca faithful for questionable decisions in outings against all of Getafe, Granada, and Real Madrid.
This was then followed by a similar backlash earlier this season, when, late in August, the Catalans escaped with three points at Rayo Vallecano, despite seeing a Robert Lewandowski goal disallowed for an alleged infraction on the part of Jules Koundé.
Soto Grado’s appointment for their post-international break return to action this weekend, in turn, has gone down understandably poorly amongst all of a Barcelona persuasion.
Conor Laird – GSFN
