Home Football UEFA’s declares Barcelona’s protest regarding the referee’s decision is inadmissible

UEFA’s declares Barcelona’s protest regarding the referee’s decision is inadmissible

Apr 14, 2026

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The UEFA Control Ethics and Disciplinary Body has rejected Barcelona’s complaint over the absence of VAR assistance during the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal.

The incident involving a possible penalty after Marc Pubill of Atletico Madrid, who was already receiving a yellow card, touched the ball in the box infuriated the Catalan giants.

After goalkeeper Juan Musso looked to have taken a goal kick, Pubill blocked the ball with his hand, but referee Istvan Kovacs denied Barcelona’s penalty claim, and VAR Christian Dingert did not step in. UEFA dismissed the objection as “inadmissible,” despite Barcelona’s argument that this was “a major error.”

According to a UEFA statement: “FC Barcelona lodged a protest against a referee judgment during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg between FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. The protest was ruled inadmissible by the UEFA Control Ethics and Disciplinary Body on April 13, 2026.

UEFA dismisses Barca’s complaint over refereeing

Barcelona’s protest on the officiating during their 2-0 home loss to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal was denied by UEFA, the governing body said on Tuesday.

After Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso seemed to have put the ball back into play from a goal kick before defender Marc Pubill handled it within the six-yard area to retake it, Barcelona requested a penalty.

The VAR panel did not call referee Istvan Kovacs to the monitor after he waved play on. Barcelona filed a formal complaint on Thursday, but it was rejected by UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body.

“FC Barcelona submitted a protest over a referee judgment during the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. The objection was deemed inadmissible by the UEFA Control Ethics and Disciplinary Body on April 13, 2026, according to a statement released by UEFA. Later on Tuesday, Barcelona and Atletico will play each other in the second leg.