Barcelona Revolts After Inter Elimination, Direct Accusations Against Referee Marciniak
Anger reached a fever pitch at Barcelona following their Champions League semi-final exit to Inter Milan in the second leg, where Polish referee Szymon Marciniak sparked significant controversy and was considered to have directly influenced the outcome of the match.
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The game, which ended with the Italian side winning in extra time, prompted a wave of criticism, beginning with coach Hansi Flick and several Barcelona players during the post-match press conference. Hours later, club president Joan Laporta publicly placed the blame on Marciniak, holding him primarily responsible for the team’s elimination from the tournament.
Marciniak Responds to Barcelona’s Accusations
Amid this tension, referee Szymon Marciniak broke his silence and gave provocative remarks to Al-Qahira newspaper, further fueling the anger of Barcelona fans. He stated, “The comments made by Flick and his players are ridiculous. What can I say about such statements?” He also firmly defended the legitimacy of Inter’s third goal, which pushed the match into extra time, saying, “Inter’s third goal was absolutely valid.” In response to Pedri’s comments, which hinted at a possible formal complaint by Barcelona to UEFA, Marciniak added, “I am ready for anything.”
Controversial Refereeing Decisions
The match officiated by Marciniak will remain in the memory of Catalan fans for years, due to a series of controversial refereeing decisions. Among the most notable were a probable handball by Acerbi early in the match, the questionable penalty awarded to Koparsi, and the red card shown to Mkhitaryan for his challenge on Lamine Yamal. Furthermore, serious questions were raised regarding the referee’s failure to penalize a clear foul by Dumfries on Gerard Martin — an incident that could have led to the disallowing of Acerbi’s decisive goal in the final minutes.
In a recent development, media outlets have circulated a previously unseen video clip showing a double handball by Acerbi on Pedri inside the penalty area, occurring when the score was tied 2-2. The incident went unnoticed by the officials, raising further concerns about the quality of refereeing in the match.
Criticism of the Referees
Laporta did not shy away from addressing the controversy surrounding the match, asserting that the referee’s decisions directly contributed to Barcelona’s elimination:
“Yesterday, the team made a tremendous effort to reach the final in Munich, but it wasn’t to be. Fundamentally, we failed to qualify due to refereeing decisions that did not go in our favor. However, this injustice should strengthen us and instill the mentality needed to win La Liga. We have a strong team for both the present and the future, and with continued hard work, I’m confident we will return stronger next season to compete in the Champions League.”
According to information from ‘‘El Nacional‘‘, Laporta has decided to file a formal complaint with UEFA over the errors committed by the Polish referee against Barcelona, demanding that he be barred from officiating the club’s Champions League matches next season—and even suspended—following what the club views as disastrous decisions.
