Referee Turpin defended by Lahoz after Barcelona's VAR complaints
Referee Clément Turpin has received a public defence from the controversial former Spanish official Antonio Mateu Lahoz following fierce criticism from Barcelona. The French official's performance, particularly his use of VAR to send off Barcelona defender Eric García in their Champions League quarter-final defeat to Atlético Madrid, has sparked a major dispute, with the Catalan club reportedly set to lodge another formal complaint.
Turpin initially showed García a yellow card for a 79th-minute foul on Atlético's Alexander Sørloth, who was through on goal. After being advised to consult the pitchside monitor, Turpin upgraded the sanction to a red card, judging García to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity. The decision proved pivotal in Atlético's 3-2 aggregate victory, eliminating Barcelona from the competition.
In the aftermath, Barcelona players, including winger Raphinha, and the club itself launched strong criticisms of Turpin's handling of the match. However, speaking on the Spanish channel Movistar, Lahoz praised his colleague's actions. "Finally we are making rational use of VAR!" Lahoz said. "I am delighted that he went to review the images. Jules Koundé is not in a position to defend on the action. Who is the referee of the match? Clément Turpin? Well, I think it's great that he went to consult the VAR."
Lahoz's support is notable given his own divisive reputation during his career, which included frequent controversies over game management and card distribution. His defence underscores the solidarity often found among referees when one comes under intense scrutiny from a major club. The incident has reignited the perennial debate over the consistency and application of VAR in high-stakes European matches.
For Barcelona, the elimination and the nature of the decisive refereeing decision marks a bitter end to their Champions League campaign, adding to a season of frustration. The club's reported intention to lodge a complaint follows a pattern of tension with officiating bodies this season. For Turpin, a highly experienced referee who has taken charge of a Champions League final and a World Cup, the support from a peer like Lahoz may provide some insulation against the backlash, though the episode is likely to be reviewed by UEFA's refereeing committee. The focus now shifts to the semi-finals, with the spotlight on officiating remaining intensely bright.
