Athletic: "Caring for referees is caring for football"

Athletic Club issues statement defending referees after controversy over penalty decision in Basque derby against Real Sociedad.

Athletic Club has released an official statement calling for respect towards referees following disagreement over a penalty awarded by Hernández Hernández in Wednesday's Basque derby against Real Sociedad. The penalty was given for an Aramburu challenge on Nico Williams and has since been upheld by the CTA (Technical Arbitration Committee) as the correct decision.

The club emphasizes that referees are essential to football and deserve respect even when decisions prove controversial. Athletic acknowledges that referees are human and make mistakes, but argues that errors should not justify campaigns of pressure or targeting. The statement references rugby as an example of a sport where referee authority is naturally respected, even in tense moments.

Athletic reaffirms its commitment to defending the dignity of referees regardless of whether decisions favour or disadvantage the club, citing a previous incident against Sevilla where the CTA later confirmed an error had been made in Athletic's favour.