Officially: Barcelona Files Formal Complaint with UEFA Over Atlético Madrid Match Officiating

FC Barcelona announced on Thursday that it has filed an official complaint with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), protesting the refereeing decisions during their match against Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

The club stated that the refereeing performance did not adhere to the applicable laws, which directly impacted the flow of the match and its final outcome.

The complaint specifically focuses on an incident in the 54th minute of the match, where an opposing player handled the ball inside their penalty area after a legitimate restart of play, without a penalty kick being awarded to Barcelona, according to the club's statement.

Barcelona considers this decision, along with the lack of serious intervention from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, to be a grave error. Consequently, the club has requested an investigation, access to the referees' communications, and, if errors are proven, official acknowledgment and appropriate action.

In the same context, FC Barcelona believes this is not the first time in recent editions of the Champions League that incomprehensible refereeing decisions have negatively affected the team, creating a clear double standard and preventing fair competition with other clubs.