FC Barcelona Lodges Grievance with UEFA
In an official statement, FC Barcelona has lodged a formal grievance with UEFA concerning what they perceive as a significant officiating error during their recent Champions League match against Atlético Madrid.
Incident Overview
The incident in question occurred in the 54th minute of the quarterfinal first leg, where Barcelona’s Marc Pubill, already on a yellow card, handled the ball in the penalty area after Atlético’s goalkeeper Juan Musso attempted to resume play with a goal kick. Despite Barcelona’s protests for a penalty, referee Istvan Kovacs upheld his decision not to award a spot-kick, and VAR official Christian Dingert refrained from intervening.
Barcelona’s Position
Barcelona asserts that this lack of action not only contradicted established regulations but also affected the match’s outcome.
The club believes that there was refereeing conduct contrary to current regulations, with a direct impact on the course of the match and its result.
Their statement emphasized the need for an investigation into the matter and access to the communication between officials during the game, highlighting their frustration with a trend of questionable officiating in past Champions League seasons, claiming it places them at a disadvantage compared to rival clubs.
Match Summary
The controversy emerged as Atlético Madrid took a 1-0 lead, courtesy of Julián Álvarez’s goal, following a red card issued to Barça’s Pau Cubarsí. Alexander Sørloth later sealed the victory with a second goal in the 70th minute, concluding the match 2-0 in favor of Atlético.
Manager’s Reaction
Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s manager, expressed his indignation at the decisions made by the officials post-match, stating,
For me, it’s a clear red card—well, a second yellow card and a penalty.
He questioned the absence of a VAR review, indicating that it felt unjust and unfair for his team.
The VAR was very focused today for Atlético. It’s a German guy, so thanks Germany.
He remarked, alluding to the perceived bias during the match. As they prepare for the crucial second leg, the scrutiny on officiating continues to loom over Barcelona’s Champions League campaign, compounding the pressure on the team to perform.
