At A Glance
- Official Appeal: FC Barcelona have formally filed a complaint against UEFA following controversial refereeing decisions vs Atlético Madrid in a 2-0 Champions League quarterfinal loss.
- Key Incident: A Marc Pubill handball inside the box in the 54th minute was not awarded as a penalty, despite a VAR review.
- Club Position: Barca believe the decision directly impacted the match and are requesting an investigation.
FC Barcelona have officially filed a complaint with UEFA, as previously reported on and expected.
The appeal pertains to controversial refereeing decisions during Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final clash against Atlético Madrid.
The club confirmed that their legal team has submitted a formal appeal through an official statement shared with members of the press.
The correspondence cited what they describe as officiating “contrary to current regulations”. They believe this had a direct impact on how the first leg developed and its 2-0 result in Atletico’s favour.
At the centre of the complaint is a key incident in the 54th minute. After play correctly resumed, Marc Pubill handled the ball inside the penalty area.
This is an action Barcelona believe should’ve resulted in a penalty. Despite immediate protests from players, neither the referee nor VAR intervened, allowing play to continue.
Key Decision Against Barcelona Under Scrutiny
Barcelona’s appeal focuses heavily on this moment, arguing that the decision represents a clear error under the Laws of the Game.
The club additionally raised concerns over the lack of VAR intervention, which they believe should have identified and corrected the situation. Post-match, Hansi Flick made comments regarding the matter too.
As part of the complaint, Barcelona have requested access to the refereeing communications from the match.
The club seek official recognition of any potential errors, and the implementation of appropriate measures moving forward.
Wider Barcelona Concerns Over Officiating
Beyond this specific incident, Barcelona have expressed broader concerns regarding refereeing standards in recent editions of the Champions League.
The club believe that similar decisions have negatively affected them in the past, creating what they describe as a lack of consistency and fairness compared to other teams.
While it remains unlikely that the result of the match will be altered, the appeal highlights growing frustration within the club.
For Barcelona, the objective is not only accountability for this particular incident. It’s also greater transparency, and consistency in officiating at the highest level of European football.
With the complaint now officially filed, attention will turn to UEFA’s response and whether any further action will be taken.
