Barcelona to make another complaint to UEFA after exit
Apr 16, 2026
Madrid [Spain], April 16: Barcelona president-elect Joan Laporta has said the club will make another official complaint to UEFA after describing the officiating in Tuesday's Champions League game against Atletico Madrid as "a disgrace."
The Catalan club were knocked out, losing 3-2 on aggregate, after last week's 2-0 defeat at Camp Nou was followed by a 2-1 win at the Metropolitano Stadium.
Barça had an official complaint rejected by UEFA this week over the referee's decision not to award them a penalty for handball in the first leg, when Atletico defender Marc Pubill touched the ball with his hand after it appeared a goal kick had been passed to him.
Laporta, quoted by Spanish media outlet Marca on Wednesday, said: "Barça is demanding an explanation as to why that complaint was deemed inadmissible, and president (Rafa) Yuste has told me that another complaint will be filed because what happened yesterday is unacceptable."
Following Tuesday's tournament exit, Laporta reeled off a list of grievances over decisions he felt went against his club in both legs.
"First of all, I want to congratulate Atletico Madrid, but that doesn't change the fact that yesterday's refereeing - both by the referee and the VAR was a disgrace. What they've done to us is intolerable," he said.
Laporta claimed Barça defender Eric García should not have been sent off in the second leg for his trip on Atleti striker Alexander Sorloth and that Ferran Torres' 'goal' should not have been ruled out for offside.
The goal was clearly offside but the García incident was debatable.
"It's been a series where the referees' decisions have really hurt us," Laporta added.
"In the second leg, Eric García wasn't the last man, (Jules) Kounde was closing in. The referee opted for a yellow card and VAR made him reverse the call.
"Ferran's goal was a goal, the penalty on (Dani) Olmo was a penalty and the tackle on Fermin (Lopez) is intolerable because it split his upper lip wide open.
"The kid was in pain while they were stitching him up and not even a card. It's unacceptable."
Source: Qatar Tribbune
