FC Barcelona have filed a formal complaint with UEFA after a contentious handball incident went unreviewed during their 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg loss to Atletico Madrid.
The flashpoint came in the 54th minute of Wednesday night’s tie in Barcelona, with the visitors already leading 1-0. Atletico defender Marc Pubill appeared to handle a pass from goalkeeper Juan Musso to steady the ball before taking a goal kick.
Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs waved play on and no penalty was awarded, prompting furious reactions from the Barcelona bench and players.
In a strongly worded statement, the Catalan club said: “The club considers that the refereeing did not adhere to the current law, directly influencing how the game progressed and the result.”
The five-time European champions, whose last triumph in the UEFA Champions League came in 2015, also criticised the video review process. They said the “decision, along with a grave lack of intervention by VAR, represents a major error.”
Barcelona went further, suggesting the incident reflects a wider pattern in recent seasons. The club claimed “This is not the first time in recent editions of the UEFA Champions League that unfathomable refereeing decisions have had a detrimental effect on the team, creating a clear double standard and preventing competition against other clubs on a level playing field.”
Attention now turns to the return leg in Madrid next Wednesday, where Barcelona must overturn a two-goal deficit to keep their European hopes alive.
