The drama surrounding Barcelona’s exit from the UEFA Champions League has continued as the club president labels the officiating in the second-leg as “disgraceful.”
Barcelona won 2-1 at the Metropolitano but exited Europe after a 3-2 aggregate defeat following last week’s 2-0 loss at Spotify Camp Nou in the first leg.
Following the game, some Barcelona players voiced out their displeasure with injured forward Raphinha saying Barça had been “robbed.” The Brazilian winger statement has now received some backup from Joan Laporta.
Barcelona players following their elimination from the UEFA Champions League. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“First of all, congratulations to Atlético for reaching the semifinal, but that doesn’t take away from the refereeing, which was a disgrace,” the Barça chief told reporters.
“It’s unacceptable. Already in the first leg, we were not given a penalty [for a Marc Pubill handball] and [Pau Cubarsí] was sent off when it should only have been a yellow card because Giuliano [Simeone] did not have the ball under control.
“The referee made the right decision giving the yellow at first — but the VAR demanded a red card which really damaged our chances.
“The refereeing decisions have had a major impact on the tie. In the second leg, it was more of the same.”
Ademola Lookman celebrates after scoring Atletico de Madrid goal against Barcelona. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
After the first leg, Barça filed an official complaint to UEFA, mainly protesting they should have received a spot kick when Pubill touched the ball with his hand after goalkeeper Juan Musso had appeared to restart play.
Barça also felt Pubill, already on a booking, should therefore have been sent off, but UEFA responded this week saying the Catalan club’s complaint was “inadmissible.”
Juan Laporta has now insisted that the club will continue to take the fight to UEFA over the standard of officiating.
“For Eric’s red card, Jules Koundé could easily have got to the ball, so Eric wasn’t the last man,” Laporta said. “The referee had the yellow card out and the VAR stepped in again.
“Ferran’s [offside] goal was a goal, there was a penalty on Dani Olmo and the aggression on Fermín is unacceptable. His lip was completely bust open. Not even a booking! It’s unacceptable.
“We filed a complaint after the first leg and UEFA said it was ‘inadmissible.’ We will ask for further explanations. The club will also make another complaint because what’s inadmissible is what happened to us on Tuesday once again.”
