Barcelona to lodge new UEFA complaint over refereeing in Champions League exit
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed the club will file a formal complaint to UEFA over the officiating in their Champions League quarter-final elimination by Atletico Madrid. The announcement follows a 2-1 defeat in the second leg on Tuesday, which sealed a 4-3 aggregate loss for the Catalan side.
Laporta labelled the refereeing performance by Clément Turpin in the return leg as "scandalous" and "intolerable" in comments to Spanish media on Wednesday. His criticism extends to the first leg, where Barcelona believe they were denied a clear penalty and saw defender Pau Cubarsi controversially sent off following a VAR intervention. "The referee had taken the right decision, but the VAR forced him to review it with a red card that hurt us a lot," Laporta said.
This marks the second time in a week Barcelona have moved to protest officiating decisions to European football's governing body. The club had already submitted a complaint regarding the first leg, but Laporta revealed it was deemed inadmissible. He stated that vice-president Rafa Yuste informed him a new, separate complaint would be lodged regarding the overall conduct of the tie.
The elimination continues a difficult European campaign for Barcelona, who have now failed to reach the Champions League semi-finals for four consecutive seasons. The focus on refereeing decisions underscores the club's frustration at their exit, particularly after taking a first-leg lead. For Atletico Madrid, the victory sets up a semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
UEFA has not yet commented on the potential new complaint. Historical precedent suggests such protests rarely result in overturned results or sanctions, but they highlight the escalating tensions between top clubs and match officials in high-stakes matches. The incident involving Cubarsi's red card is likely to be a central point of contention in Barcelona's submitted dossier.
Laporta's public remarks and the planned legal action ensure the narrative surrounding Barcelona's exit will extend beyond the pitch. The club's leadership appears determined to formally contest the circumstances of their defeat, even as Atletico Madrid's progression is confirmed. The outcome of this process will be closely watched, though it is unlikely to alter the sporting result that has ended Barcelona's Champions League ambitions for this season.
