UEFA has dealt a setback to FC Barcelona after its Disciplinary Committee ruled the club’s complaint “inadmissible” regarding the controversial refereeing in their match against Atletico Madrid.
The Blaugrana filed a formal complaint to UEFA last week, highlighting irregular officiating from referee Istvan Kovacs in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie at the Spotify Camp Nou.
At the centre of the complaint was the controversial incident involving Atletico Madrid defender Marc Pubill.
In the second half, the Spanish right-back handled the ball inside the box following a pass from goalkeeper Juan Musso.
Barça argued it should have been a penalty and a second yellow for Pubill, while both the referee and Atletico Madrid maintained that the ball was not yet in play.
The decision caused significant frustration within the Barça dressing room, as Hansi Flick had already indicated immediately after the match. The club’s senior officials were equally unhappy.
As such, Barcelona proceeded to lodge an official complaint, seeking an explanation for the decisions as well as access to the recordings of the conversations between the referee and the VAR.
However, UEFA has now dealt a blow by deeming the Catalans’ complaint ‘inadmissible’, issuing an official statement:
“Following the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, played on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona lodged a protest concerning a refereeing decision.
On April 13, 2026, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body declared the protest inadmissible.”
