Ref Cam Audio Catches Raphinha Asking Referee for Protection in Sevilla Win
The short version
- Barcelona beat Sevilla 3-1 in LaLiga at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.
- Raphinha scored a hat-trick in the match.
- Ref cam audio broadcast on DAZN showed Raphinha asking referee Juan Martínez Munuera for protection from Sevilla's blocking and grabbing.
- The referee said his officials had seen the incidents and warned the Sevilla players.
- Martínez Munuera also cautioned Raphinha and Youssouf Fofana for grappling at a free kick, calling it judo.
Broadcast footage from Barcelona's 3-1 victory at Sevilla captured Raphinha urging referee Juan Martínez Munuera to crack down on the hosts' physical play.
Referee microphone footage from Barcelona's 3-1 LaLiga win at Sevilla has revealed an exchange in which Raphinha asked match official Juan Martínez Munuera for protection from the home side's physical tactics. The audio, captured by the ref cam and aired on DAZN, showed the Brazilian voicing his concerns during the game at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.
Raphinha, who scored a hat-trick in the victory, told the referee to watch the blocking and grabbing, warning that Barcelona's players risked injury. He added that if the official called one or two fouls, Sevilla would likely stop the tactic.
Martínez Munuera replied that his officials had already noticed the behavior and had spoken to the Sevilla players about it.
A separate clip from the same footage showed the referee cautioning Raphinha and Sevilla's Youssouf Fofana for grappling at a free kick. He told both players they were each grabbing the other, adding that the behavior belonged to judo rather than football.
