Barcelona's Penalty Appeal Rejected by UEFA Ahead of Atletico Clash
UEFA has dismissed an official protest from FC Barcelona regarding a penalty incident in their Champions League quarter-final first leg defeat to Atlético Madrid. The European football governing body declared Barcelona's complaint over a potential handball incident "inadmissible." The decision comes just hours before the two sides meet in the crucial second leg at the Metropolitano Stadium.
Barcelona had lodged an appeal with UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body following their 2-0 first-leg defeat at home. The Catalan club protested that Atlético defender Marc Pubill handled the ball in the penalty area, an incident which was not penalised by the on-field officials or the VAR. In a statement, UEFA confirmed that Barcelona's complaint, which argued the decision had a 'direct impact on the match and its result,' was deemed inadmissible.
The incident, which occurred in the first leg at Camp Nou last week, saw Barcelona players appeal for a penalty after the ball appeared to make contact with Pubill's arm. The on-field referee, Istvan Kovacs, did not award a penalty, and the Video Assistant Referee did not intervene to recommend an on-field review. Barcelona's formal protest, submitted on April 9th, was their final avenue to contest the decision, but UEFA's disciplinary body has now closed the matter.
Beyond the officiating controversy, a separate dispute has flared over the state of the pitch at Atlético's Metropolitano Stadium ahead of the return leg. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was filmed in a conversation with a UEFA delegate, Christian Kofoed, expressing concern over the length and condition of the grass. The Barcelona coach was seen pointing to specific areas of the turf, with the dryness and length of the grass a particular worry. Atlético Madrid has previously faced criticism over their pitch, with players from both their own team and opponents, including Tottenham Hotspur in a previous season, having complained about the surface's condition. The club has previously cited adverse weather and the stadium's use for other events as factors affecting the pitch, while UEFA has assured Barcelona that all protocols for match organisation are being followed.
The controversy adds a further layer of tension to an already high-stakes fixture. With Atlético holding a two-goal advantage from the first leg, Barcelona face a monumental task to overturn the deficit on a potentially difficult pitch. The Spanish rivals will meet at the Metropolitano on Tuesday, with Barcelona needing to overcome both a two-goal deficit and the psychological blow of having their official protest dismissed by European football's governing body.
