UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) has officially dismissed a formal complaint lodged by FC Barcelona concerning refereeing decisions during their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against Atlético Madrid. The ruling declared Barcelona's grievance "inadmissible," effectively closing the book on the club's protest. The club had specifically contested the non-awarding of a penalty, alleging a handball incident involving Atlético defender Marc Pubill after goalkeeper Juan Musso had taken a goal kick.
Barcelona's Grievance Finds No Purchase with UEFA
The incident at the heart of Barcelona's complaint occurred in the 54th minute of the match at Spotify Camp Nou. Barcelona argued that Marc Pubill handled the ball within his own penalty area following a goal kick taken by Atlético's goalkeeper, Juan Musso. The club contended that this constituted a penalty offense and that the referee, along with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), failed to intervene appropriately. Barcelona’s official statement, issued shortly after filing the complaint, claimed the referee's performance was "contrary to the regulations in force, directly impacting the course of the match and its outcome." They sought an investigation into the decision and access to communications between the match officials.
Read More: Las Vegas Raiders Expected to Pick Quarterback Fernando Mendoza First Overall in 2026 NFL Draft
Atlético Madrid Secures First-Leg Advantage
The match itself saw Atlético Madrid emerge victorious with a 2-0 scoreline, building a significant lead heading into the second leg. Julián Álvarez opened the scoring shortly after Pau Cubarsí received a red card, with Alexander Sørloth adding the second goal in the 70th minute. This victory places Atlético in a commanding position for the return fixture scheduled for April 14th at the Metropolitano.
A History of Contention
This is not the first time Barcelona has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions. The club's acting president, Rafael Yuste, had announced their intention to file the complaint, stating, "Everyone makes mistakes, but there are too many of them, and we cannot let it pass. We’re not talking about three points, but about a title like the Champions League." The complaint was formalized by the club's legal department on April 9, 2026. Barcelona's stance was that the non-awarded penalty, coupled with the VAR's lack of intervention, represented a "significant error" that unjustly affected the game's result.
Read More: Travis Hunter Ranked Number 1 NFL Draft Prospect by Jordan Reid
