Spanish La Liga giants, FC Barcelona are battling to have Hansi Flick available for Sunday’s blockbuster clash with Real Madrid after the club appealed the one-match suspension handed to the German manager.

Naija News reports that the Catalans filed their appeal on Thursday morning, urging the Appeals Committee to overturn the decision made by the Sports Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. Hansi Flick was sent off in the closing minutes of Barcelona’s 2-1 loss to Girona last weekend after receiving two yellow cards.

Referee Jesús Gil Manzano’s match report claimed Flick was booked first “for applauding one of my decisions as a sign of protest,” and again moments later “after being cautioned for making a gesture of disapproval.”

Barcelona insist the video evidence tells a different story. Club president Joan Laporta argued that the referee “made a mistake by waiting for Flick’s reaction, as seen in the images.”

If the appeal is unsuccessful, Flick will be forced to watch the El Clásico from the stands, with his assistant Marcus Sorg expected to take charge at the Bernabéu. The club is, however, prepared to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if the decision stands.

© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]