Barcelona has officially lodged a complaint with UEFA regarding the officiating during their Champions League quarterfinal matches against Atletico Madrid. The club contends that the refereeing decisions significantly influenced both the gameplay and the overall outcome of the tie.

In the matches, Barcelona faced a 4-3 defeat on aggregate and received red cards in both games. Pau Cubarsi was ejected shortly before halftime in the first leg, while Eric Garcia followed suit towards the end of the second leg.

“The club believes that numerous refereeing calls were made that did not align with the Laws of the Game,” the statement read. It emphasized flaws in the application of the rules and the VAR system’s shortcomings in handling clear incidents of significance. Barcelona expressed readiness to work with UEFA to enhance refereeing standards for a more stringent, just, and transparent application of the rules.

Although specific instances of these officiating errors were not detailed in their release, an earlier complaint by manager Hansi Flick highlighted a questionable decision from the previous week’s first leg match. Flick called attention to an unreviewed incident involving Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso, who he believed should have been penalized and sent off.

Flick stated, “They deserved a red card… it’s clear,” pointing to the need for better refereeing oversight.

As Barcelona progresses with this complaint, the outcome with UEFA remains uncertain as the governing body has yet to respond. Atletico Madrid will now face Arsenal in the semifinals, vying for their first final appearance since 2016.