Spain - Ekhbary News Agency
Barcelona Lodges Formal Complaint with UEFA Over Controversial Refereeing
FC Barcelona has officially submitted a complaint to the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) following their 0-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. The club cited a "blatant refereeing error" as a key factor influencing the match's outcome and stated that the officiating was contrary to established regulations.
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The complaint centers on a specific incident in the 54th minute. Atletico Madrid substitute Marc Popiel, a defender, appeared to handle the ball inside his own penalty area after receiving a pass from goalkeeper Juan Musso. Neither the on-field referee, Istvan Kovacs, nor the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened to award a penalty, sparking outrage among Barcelona players and staff.
Demands for Investigation and Official Apology
Barcelona is requesting a thorough investigation into the incident, access to VAR communications, and, if warranted, an official apology and sanctions against those responsible. The club highlighted that such officiating errors have previously impacted matches in the competition, potentially undermining fair play and equitable competition.
Comparison to Club Brugge Penalty Incident
The Catalan giants drew a parallel to a similar situation last season where Club Brugge was awarded a penalty against Aston Villa for a comparable handball. Both players and coaching staff expressed their disbelief at the decision, with Barcelona manager Hansi Flick suggesting a penalty could have significantly altered the game's dynamics.
