‘No one will give us back the lost point’ – Joan Laporta reacts to CTA admission after Barcelona’s defeat to Girona

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has acknowledged the Spanish referees’ committee (CTA) admission that VAR should have intervened during the Catalans’ recent loss to Girona, but he says the belated recognition cannot restore the vital point that slipped away.

The flashpoint arrived late in the match when Girona’s Claudio Echeverri trod on Jules Koundé in the build-up to Fran Beltrán’s decisive goal. On-field officials allowed play to continue, and the subsequent strike stood, tipping the contest 4-2 in Girona’s favour.

Speaking after the CTA conceded the oversight, Laporta welcomed the validation yet stressed its limited practical value.

“My feeling is that they’ve recognized our complaint was justified,” he said. “All this mess could have been avoided if VAR had intervened. The stamp on Koundé was obvious. Recognizing their mistake is good, but no one will give us back the lost point. From there, we have a mixed feeling. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again.”

The president added that the squad must now channel its frustration into performances that render refereeing controversies irrelevant.

“We have to be far superior to our rivals to win. The team is focused, we have talent, commitment, and we will make a Herculean effort. I am convinced that we will win the league against all odds.”

Barcelona have since regained first place in La Liga and prepare to face Villarreal on Saturday, determined to keep their title push on track.