BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – The return leg is on April 14, but the first leg isn’t over yet. The day after their 2-0 home defeat to Atlético Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, Barcelona filed a complaint with UEFA, requesting an investigation, access to the referee’s communications, and, if necessary, action for the penalty not awarded to Pubill.
The Azulgrana club claimed that Pubill handled the ball during a period of play, since goalkeeper Musso had taken the goal kick. For Romanian Kovacs, however, who had been called up by Collina for the World Cup, the game was stopped. “Barcelona announces that its legal department has filed a formal complaint with UEFA today regarding the events that occurred in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Atlético Madrid,” a statement from Barça said.
“The club believes there was a refereeing decision that was contrary to the applicable regulations, with a direct impact on the course of the match and its outcome. The complaint focuses on a specific incident. In the 54th minute of play, after the regular restart, an opposing player handled the ball in the penalty area without a penalty being awarded”.
“Barça,” the statement continues, “believes that this decision, combined with the serious lack of intervention by VAR, constitutes a significant error. Consequently, the club has requested the opening of an investigation, access to the referee’s communications, and, if necessary, official recognition of the errors and the adoption of appropriate measures.” The club also added that in recent Champions League campaigns, it has suffered several injustices and “incomprehensible decisions that have seriously damaged the team.” “With the technical resources we have at our disposal, and the electronic resources for VAR, I cannot understand why a penalty, in my opinion a clear one, was not awarded against Atlético Madrid, with all due respect to everyone. Intentional or not, the action is crystal clear,” stated interim president Rafa Yuste.
(ITALPRESS).
