Barcelona complain to Uefa about VAR in Atletico loss

Barcelona have formally lodged a complaint with Uefa over what they term a “grave lack of VAR intervention” during Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat to Atlético Madrid at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

The flash-point arrived in the 54th minute, moments after the visitors had taken the lead through Julián Álvarez’s exquisite free-kick. Atlético defender Marc Pubill, already on a yellow card, appeared to handle the ball inside his own area after goalkeeper Juan Musso had resumed play with a quick goal-kick. Barcelona’s players immediately surrounded Romanian referee István Kovács appealing for a penalty, yet no spot-kick was awarded and video assistant Christian Dingert elected not to intervene.

“The club considers that the refereeing did not adhere to the current law, directly influencing how the game progressed and the result,” Barcelona said in a statement released on Thursday. “This decision, along with a grave lack of intervention by VAR, represents a major error.”

Barça have requested that Uefa open an investigation, grant access to the match officials’ communications and, “where applicable”, issue an official acknowledgment of the mistakes together with “the adoption of the relevant measures”.

The Catalans were already down to ten men at the time of the incident; 17-year-old centre-back Pau Cubarsí was sent off in the 44th minute after Kovács upgraded an initial yellow to red following a VAR review of his foul on Giuliano Simeone, who had been clean through on goal.

Speaking after the match, Barça head coach Hansi Flick did not hide his frustration: “The VAR was very focused today for Atlético. I don’t know what happens in the situation where the goalkeeper starts the game and the defender stops it with the hand and then plays again. For me it is a clear red – well, a double yellow – and then a red card and penalty.”

Alexander Sørloth sealed the tie’s first-leg advantage with a 70th-minute strike, handing Atlético their first victory at the Nou Camp since 2006 and leaving Barcelona with a mountain to climb in next week’s return at the Metropolitano.