Barcelona Files Formal Complaint Against Referees After Champions League Exit to Atlético Madrid
FC Barcelona has submitted a fresh complaint to UEFA regarding officiating in their Champions League quarter-final clash with Atlético Madrid, asserting that a series of alleged refereeing errors across both legs caused significant sporting and financial harm to the club.
The Catalan giants lodged the complaint on Thursday, April 16, 2026, following their 2-1 defeat in the second leg at the Estadio Metropolitano, which saw them eliminated despite winning the away match. Barcelona had previously filed a similar complaint after the first leg encounter at Camp Nou on April 8, 2026, which UEFA rejected just hours before the return fixture.
According to the club’s official statement released on Thursday, Barcelona maintains that “several decisions were taken in violation of the laws of the game, resulting from an incorrect application of the regulations and insufficient intervention by the VAR system in situations of clear importance.” The complaint specifically references the accumulation of alleged errors throughout the two-match tie.
The French referee Clément Turpin officiated both matches, having been appointed by UEFA for the quarter-final tie. Barcelona referenced prior encounters with Turpin, noting they had faced him during the previous season’s Champions League campaign, including a 3-3 draw against Inter Milan. For Atlético Madrid, Turpin had previously overseen their 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in the 2024-25 Champions League group stage.
Barcelona’s complaint highlights specific incidents from both matches. In the first leg at Camp Nou, the club protested a alleged handball incident in Atlético’s penalty area that was not penalized. During the second leg, Barcelona finished the match with ten men after a dismissal, mirroring their numerical disadvantage from the first encounter.
The club argues that these collective decisions directly influenced the flow and outcome of both games, culminating in what they describe as “significant sporting and financial prejudice.” Barcelona emphasized its willingness to collaborate with UEFA to improve refereeing standards moving forward.
Atlético Madrid progressed to the Champions League semi-finals after holding a 2-1 aggregate advantage, having won the first leg 1-0 at Camp Nou before securing the 2-1 victory in Madrid. The result marked Diego Simeone’s first-ever victory at Barcelona’s stadium in his managerial career, breaking a long-standing record against the Catalan side.
The elimination similarly meant Barcelona would be without defender Pau Cubarsi for the second leg due to suspension following his dismissal in the first match. Atlético Madrid similarly faced absences, with Marc Pubill unavailable due to accumulated yellow cards.
Barcelona’s latest complaint adds to growing scrutiny over officiating in this season’s Champions League knockout stages. The club joins other teams that have raised concerns about consistency and VAR application in high-stakes European matches.
As of Thursday afternoon, UEFA had not publicly responded to Barcelona’s second complaint. The governing body typically reviews such submissions internally before determining whether any further action is warranted.
The focus now shifts to Atlético Madrid’s semi-final preparation, although Barcelona turns attention to domestic competitions and planning for the next season. Any potential disciplinary or procedural outcomes from the complaints remain pending UEFA’s review process.
For continued updates on this developing story and other football news, fans are encouraged to follow official club communications and verified sports news sources.
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