Barcelona has voiced its frustration over referee decisions following their narrow 4-3 defeat at the hands of Inter in the UEFA Champions League semifinals, which concluded on May 6. The exhilarating encounter saw Inter emerge victorious thanks to a stunning performance, allowing them to advance to the final scheduled for May 31 in Munich, where they will face the winner of PSG vs. Arsenal.

In a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats—ending at 7-6 on aggregate—Barcelona’s manager Hansi Flick and midfielder Pedri raised concerns over key refereeing choices by Szymon Marciniak, considered among the world’s top referees.

“It’s a bit of an empty feeling at the moment.”
Frenkie de Jong reflected on the match in a post-game commentary.
Frenkie de Jong

After the match, Flick stated, “Some decisions were 50-50, always leaning towards Inter, but we have to accept it. We can be proud of our performance. It sometimes feels unjust. We will reset and aim for the Champions League again next season.”

The allegations of dubious officiating stem from several critical incidents. A handball by Acerbi, who scored a late equalizer, went unpunished by VAR as it occurred after the ball had touched his body. Furthermore, Barcelona’s Gerard Martin claimed he was fouled before Inter’s decisive equalizer, which the VAR dismissed.

Pedri added some sharp criticism: “It’s not the first time we’ve faced issues with this referee; UEFA must investigate. It feels like all 50-50 calls go against us. The incident with Lamine Yamal, where a free kick was awarded instead of a penalty, illustrates this. Marciniak’s failure to issue a second yellow card to Mkhitaryan also raised eyebrows.”

Barcelona will now prepare for an anticipated El Clasico against Real Madrid on May 11, with only a four-point gap separating them from their historic rivals, as Inter continues to chase Napoli in the Serie A title race.