Hansi Flick Condemns Racist Abuse Towards Barcelona Star Alejandro Balde

Racism Mars Barcelona’s 1-1 Draw with Getafe
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has strongly condemned the racist chants directed at Alejandro Balde during the team’s 1-1 draw with Getafe. The 20-year-old left-back was subjected to abuse during the first half, prompting him to alert the referee about the unacceptable behavior.

Speaking after the match, Balde shared his thoughts on the incident:

“Today I received racist insults. I don’t think this should continue to happen. It was in the first half. I warned the referee of the insults, and he activated the protocol. In the second half, there was no more.”

Flick Calls for Action Against Racism in Football
Flick, visibly disheartened, stood in solidarity with Balde, denouncing the behavior of those responsible and urging for stricter measures:

“There is no place for this in football or life. It’s unbelievable. In the times we are living in now, it’s completely wrong. Those who do this should stay at home. We should fight against them; that’s the best thing.

The Barcelona manager also encouraged bystanders to take action:

“People around them can do something because it’s unfair. It’s not the respect we want to live with. Everyone can contribute to stopping this.”

Barcelona Struggles to Capitalize on La Liga Opportunities
The incident overshadowed what was another disappointing result for Barcelona in La Liga. Despite Atletico Madrid’s unexpected defeat to Leganes, the Catalan side failed to make up ground. Meanwhile, Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of the table, beating Las Palmas 4-1 and moving seven points clear of Barcelona, who remain in third place.

Flick acknowledged the team’s recent struggles but maintained a positive outlook:

“I’m not worried. I know we’ve dropped a lot of points recently, and that’s not what we want. We can do much better. But in this new year, we’ve started the season well, and I’m happy about that. Now we have to show it.”

The German coach emphasized the importance of Barcelona’s upcoming game in Lisbon, where a win would secure their progression to the next round of European competition:

“Winning three points there means we’re through to the next round. That’s what we want, but we have to play much better.”