Barcelona star speaks out against refereeing after red card vs Japan – “Cannot ignore”

Barcelona star speaks out against refereeing after red card vs Japan – “Cannot ignore” Raphinha’s international break will come to an early end as the forward was handed a red card in Brazil’s friendly match against Japan. It was the worst possible outing for Carlo Ancelotti’s men, who succumbed to a 3-2 defeat, with captain Raphinha and coach Carlo Ancelotti being shown a red late on . Speaking to the media after the game, the Barcelona star did not hold back in his assessment of the referee’s performance on the night. Raphinha on referees in Brazil vs Japan It was a frustrating evening for Raphinha. (Photo by Ashok Kumar/Getty Images) Operating as a right winger, Raphinha played 71 minutes before being replaced by Endrick, with Ancelotti opting for more freshness in attack. Having already endured a frustrating game, Raphinha’s evening got worse when he Japan score a 91st minute winner. Both Raphinha and Ancelotti reacted furiously from the bench, protesting a foul they believed had been made during the build-up. But both of them were shown straight red cards for their outbursts. Speaking to the media after the game, Raphinha offered an apology and took shots at the referee’s performance on the night. “I want to apologise for the red card, but it’s very complicated not to talk about the referee,” he said (h/t Mundo Deportivo ). “It’s difficult when you’re also playing against the referee. That complicates things a lot. I’m not saying we’re not to blame. We have a lot to improve and we will, but we cannot ignore today’s refereeing ,” he added. A good thing for Barcelona? Will Raphinha return early to Barcelona? (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images) Raphinha’s red card could be a boon for Barcelona, as he could very well be suspended for Brazil’s next friendly against Singapore. This means the forward will have the luxury of returning to Barcelona early, thus avoiding the risk of picking up a potential injury during the international break. This will be music to the ears for Hansi Flick, who has been quite fortunate with injuries piling up at a crucial juncture of the campaign. However, it is not yet confirmed whether or not Raphinha will indeed leave the Brazil camp early, and we will get more clarity in the coming hours.