Barcelona filed a complaint on Thursday with UEFA over the decision not to review a handball incident in their 2-0 Champions League quarter-final, first leg defeat by Atletico Madrid.
“The club considers that the refereeing did not adhere to the current law, directly influencing how the game progressed and the result,” the club said in a statement.
The incident occurred after 54 minutes in Wednesday’s game in Barcelona, with Atletico leading 1-0.
Atletico defender Marc Pubill touched a ball passed to him by goalkeeper Juan Musso with his hand, to set it still in order to take the goal-kick himself.
Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs did not award a penalty, sparking outrage among the Barcelona players and staff.
Five-time Champions League winners Barcelona, who last lifted the trophy in 2015, said the “decision, along with a grave lack of intervention by VAR, represents a major error.”
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The club claimed that “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.”
Barca have confirmed the complaint to UEFA in an official statement, which reads: “Barcelona announces that, today, the Club’s legal department has filed a formal complaint with UEFA regarding the events that occurred in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Atlético de Madrid. The Club believes that the referee’s performance was contrary to the regulations in force, directly impacting the course of the match and its outcome. The complaint focuses on a specific incident. In the 54th minute of the match, after play had properly restarted, an opposing player handled the ball inside the penalty area, yet no penalty was awarded.
FC Barcelona believes this decision, along with the serious failure of VAR to intervene, constitutes a significant error. Consequently, the club has requested an investigation, access to the referee’s communications, and, if necessary, official acknowledgment of the errors and the implementation of appropriate measures. In this same vein, FC Barcelona believes that this is not the first time that, in recent editions of the UEFA Champions League, incomprehensible refereeing decisions have seriously harmed the team, created a clear comparative disadvantage and preventing them from competing on equal terms with other clubs.”
The second leg is next Wednesday in Madrid.
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