FC Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has hit out at Spanish football for their treatment of the referees this season.
The Spanish referees have come in for a lot of criticism in recent weeks, following some controversial taking place with Real Madrid.
This week, an investigation was opened into a referee following some calls that Los Blancos felt went against them, with the reigning LALIGA champions using their TV channel to highlight referee's and their errors.
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"It is very important to have referees. What they are doing with the referees in Spain is unbelievable. I don't like it," Flick said, as per Football Espana.
"We have to think about the families. We as players and managers have to protect them too. I don't like to use energy against the referees," Flick said unprompted and defiantly.
"We have the VAR and we have to trust them. You have to change things, because they are human and it is normal to make mistakes. The Federation must show how strong they are, because it's important. Players and coaches also make mistakes, and we must protect them.
"We always look for excuses. If we lose it's because of the referees and it's not like that. We all make mistakes, I make them, you make them, even the referees. We have to protect the referees because we can't play without them. We have to protect them. We have to play better to win."