Tempers were high after Saturday’s game between Villareal and Barcelona, but unfortunately not because of the game (which was good), but because of the referee. Soto Grado made himself a centerpiece of the duel, unintentionally, as he didn’t award penalty to Villareal after Gerrard Pique stopped the ball with his hand. For the referee it wasn’t a gesture for the heaviest punishment, which, obviously made Unai Emery very angry. In fact so angry, that he turned his anger toward Xavi, then refused to shake his hand, and eventually it ended with police intervention in the tunnel. #SundayMood 👇 pic.twitter.com/1Ve3voY1Fi— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 28, 2021 According journalist Emilio de Rozas, from Radio MARCA after Pique’s reaction, Emery was commenting in the direction of Barca’s bench: “They give you gifts”, “It’s always the same with you”. Xavi ignored the angry Emery, just gave him the thumbs up sign. When the game ended, former Arsenal boss refused to shake hands with Xavi, and Barca coach headed to the home team bench, with whom he had some dialectical confrontation, specifically with Emery’s assistant, Imanol Idiakez.Donde está el criterio arbitral? Por qué no entra el VAR y pita la mano clarísima de Piqué contra el Villareal? Acaso el Barça, ahora montado en Xavineta de Xavine Xavidane empieza a recuperar su margen arbitral habitual? @UnaiEmery_ tiene muchísima razón en sus declaraciones! pic.twitter.com/0TJEixu2Ur— iamthatVOID (@iamthatVOID) November 28, 2021 The tensions continued in the tunnel, and various reports claim that the police had to intervene and separate the two men out of precaution, but Rozas confirmed that the heated argument was between Villarreal analyst and Barca goalkeeping coach. After going through the press room and locker rooms, Unai Emery reunited with Xavi to shake his hand and end their falling out.”I do not understand the anger. They are sets of the game, the tension, nothing more. We have to be honest, we were a bit lucky. Villarreal didn’t deserve to lose” said Barca’s coach after the game.Dembele won’t sign a new contract with Barca, but are there real suitors out there?Emery also cooled down and tried to downplay the absence of handshake.“I have great appreciation for Xavi. We had been discussing game actions and a greeting does not take away anything. The greeting remains there , without the need for it to be physical. I have the feeling that Villarreal … I do not feel respect, because they have spent quite a few episodes here this season. We deserve an explanation from someone because if the referee doesn’t see it, why the VAR does not say anything?“ said Emery.
