Eric Garcia on referee controversies – “We feel like they… — and more

The last seven days have been difficult for Barcelona, with back-to-back defeats against Atletico Madrid and Girona setting them back. They have also felt hard done by with recent referee decisions that have not gone in their favour.

Girona’s winning goal on Monday was controversially allowed despite Jules Kounde appearing to be stood on. Four days prior, Barcelona were denied a goal of their own after an eight-minute VAR check, with it ultimately being ruled that Pau Cubarsi was offside in the lead-up to scoring.

As per MD, defender Eric Garcia spoke on Barcelona’s referee controversies during an interview with Tot Costa. He believes the fine margins are going against the Catalans at this stage of the season.

“There are situations that we cannot control. Right now, we feel like the referees can disallow every goal we score. If they want to disallow it, they will do it. These are games in which we have entered a bit of frustration and we must reset. We know that decisions against us can come and we have to remain focused.

“Against Atlético we created chances in the first five minutes of the second half. We scored, but seven minutes passed between them validating it or not. I think it’s crazy.”

Image via FC Barcelona

Eric: I almost left Barcelona in January 2025

Eric revealed that he was close to leaving Barcelona during the 2025 winter transfer window, but in the end, head coach Hansi Flick made the decision for him to stay.

“There was a moment when it seemed I would leave for Como. The match against Benfica changed everything. After speaking with Flick, I can now say staying was the best decision.”

He also explained why he has managed to turn things around, as he cited his previous loan spell at Girona, where he was very prominent.

“I have never doubted myself, I have always been clear about my abilities. I arrived at Barça after almost a blank year. I was 19 or 20 years old and needed regularity to grow. I didn’t have the regularity and I went to Girona with a style similar to here and with a coach who gave me a lot of confidence. I grew as a player and a person and I returned to Barça. At first it was not easy but over the months I found confidence.”

Freddie Freeman makes Clayton Kershaw admission amid Los Angeles Dodgers legend not being at Spring Training originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ clubhouse is adjusting to a new reality this spring as Clayton Kershaw isn’t toeing the rubber to get ready for another season.

Following Kershaw’s decision to retire from Major League Baseball, Dodgers star Freddie Freeman spoke about the impact of not seeing the longtime ace around camp.

“It's going to be hard. It's like when I first got here, after one year, J.T. wasn't here anymore. It's weird seeing Dodgers legends not walk around the clubhouse anymore. What [Kershaw] meant to this organization, the game of baseball, it's pretty cool he's going to pitch for Team USA. I'm looking forward to watching him pitch.

“But it's definitely going to be weird not having number 22 walking around. But we'll see him here at the ring ceremony,” he said, per The Orange County Register.

For more than a decade with the team, Kershaw was the face of the Dodgers' pitching staff, helping in championship runs and setting the tone inside the clubhouse.

Kershaw wasn’t what he once was over the past few years and dealt with injuries, but there’s always value in having guys like that around. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Dodgers struggle at times without him there, as wild as that might sound to some.

More MLB news:

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 23 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists for his third triple-double of the season, and the Boston Celtics rolled over a Golden State Warriors team playing without Stephen Curry, 121-110 on Thursday night.

Payton Pritchard added 26 points and Sam Hauser scored 16 to help Boston win for the seventh time in eight games and spoil the Golden State debut of former Celtic Kristaps Porzingis.

Brown, the leading scorer in the Eastern Conference before the All-Star break, matched his career-high in rebounds, all on the defensive end. His 13 assists are a career-best.

It was the All-Star's fifth career triple-double.

Porzingis played in 99 games over two seasons in Boston and winning a championship before getting traded to Atlanta over the summer. The Warriors acquired him from the Hawks at the trade deadline but the oft-injured 7-foot-2 center had been nursing a left Achilles injury.

The Warriors played without two-time NBA MVP Curry, who is sidelined with a knee injury. Golden State is 6-11 this season when Curry doesn’t play.

Golden State struggled to get much going without their star.

De'Anthony Melton had 18 points and Will Richard and Gui Santos had 17 each for the Warriors. Porzingis had 12 points.

Boston led by 30 then had to hold on when Golden State made a run in the fourth quarter. Gary Payton II’s dunk got the Warriors within 111-99 with six minutes left before Pritchard made back-to-back 3-pointers.

Brown had eight points and was one of eight Celtics to score in the first quarter.

Boston pulled away after that. The Celtics opened the second quarter with a 17-2 run, driving past Porzingis several times while building a 74-51 halftime lead.

Up next

Celtics: Face the Lakers in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Warriors: Host Denver on Sunday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA