FC Barcelona are not giving up on having their manager on the touchline for the biggest game of the season. After Hansi Flick’s red card during the win over Girona, the club confirmed that it will file an appeal in hopes of allowing the German coach to lead the team on October 26, when Barcelona visit Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Why Was Hansi Flick Sent Off?

During the final minutes of the Girona match, Flick was shown two yellow cards for protesting. Referee Jesús Gil Manzano reported in his match notes that the first caution came for “applauding one of my decisions in protest,” and the second for “making a gesture of disapproval” after the initial booking.

The German coach, however, denied any wrongdoing:

“I only clapped to encourage my players,” Flick explained in the post-match press conference.

What Did Deco Say About the Incident?

Sporting director Anderson Luis de Souza ‘Deco’ confirmed that the club would appeal the suspension:

“The coach said he didn’t insult anyone. We’ll definitely appeal. The refereeing strictness against us always goes to the limit. We’ll do what’s necessary from a legal standpoint,” Deco stated after the club’s members’ assembly.

He also defended Flick’s passionate celebration after Ronald Araújo’s 94th-minute winner, which drew attention from the referee team:

“That’s completely normal. Everyone was celebrating like crazy — we scored in the 94th minute with our center-back playing as a striker,” he added.

Will Flick Be on the Sidelines for El Clásico?

Barcelona remain hopeful that the appeal will succeed, allowing Hansi Flick to be on the bench for El Clásico. However, the Competition Committee will have the final say in the coming days.

In the meantime, Flick continues preparing for the showdown as usual, aware of the importance of the match and the club’s ongoing injury crisis.

The Barça leadership has made its stance clear — they will exhaust every legal option to ensure their manager is present for the most anticipated clash of the year.