FC Barcelona suffered a contentious 2-1 defeat against Real Sociedad on January 19, 2026, a result that ended their 11-game winning streak and sparked considerable outrage within the club. The primary source of discontent was the disallowance of Lamine Yamal's goal in the 27th minute, which would have given Barcelona the lead. The goal was ruled out for a marginal offside after a VAR review, a decision widely contested by the Catalan side. Reports from 'Mundo Deportivo' indicated a 'severe anger' and a mixture of 'frustration, anger, irritation and resignation' prevailing in the Barcelona dressing room. Players like captain Frenkie de Jong openly criticized the referee, Jesús Gil Manzano, for a perceived lack of communication and 'arrogance'. Midfielder Fermin Lopez also expressed his frustration publicly, sharing a screenshot of the controversial offside image with laughing emojis on social media. Coach Hansi Flick echoed these sentiments, expressing dissatisfaction with the officiating. Beyond Yamal's disallowed goal, Barcelona endured a series of unfortunate events in the match, including two other goals ruled out (by Fermin Lopez and Frenkie de Jong), a penalty for Yamal overturned by VAR, and hitting the woodwork five times. The incident has intensified the ongoing debate in Spanish football regarding VAR transparency, consistency in decision-making, and the relationship between referees and players.