After losing to Inter Milan in Tuesday night’s Champions League semi-final, Barcelona has blamed the referee.
At the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, the two teams were unable to separate throughout the first leg and ended up playing to a thrilling 3-3 tie.
In the second match, which ended in the same score after ninety minutes and needed extra time to determine who would advance to the Munich final, they delivered even more awesomeness.
After goals from Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu put Inter ahead 2-0 at the break, Barca rallied in the second half with goals from Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo, and Raphinha, who believed he had scored a late winner.
However, there was still time for more drama when Francesco Acerbi, a 37-year-old veteran centre-back for Inter, came up with an equaliser in stoppage time after being sent up top for the last few minutes.
Davide Frattesi scored the game-winning goal in extra time to advance Inter to their second Champions League final in three years.
However, Barca was dissatisfied with Szymon Marciniak and his team’s officiating, so midfielder Pedri demanded that UEFA launch an investigation.
In the mixed zone, the 22-year-old stated, “I think UEFA should take a look at it because this referee has been involved in similar incidents before.”
“I think there are things I don’t understand and they are very hard to explain.”
Did referee Marciniak make the right or wrong big calls? Hansi Flick said Inter won the “50-50 decisions” in their favour, but Barca was reportedly upset about several incidents from the second leg.
Lautaro Martinez was penalised by Pau Cubarsi.
Replays revealed that Pau Cubarsi had booted the Argentine’s foot rather than getting a touch on the ball, despite first appearing to have made an amazing last-ditch tackle to deny Martinez.
Martinez was taken out by the young defender, and the penalty seemed obvious. Without the help of VAR, which performed its duty, Marciniak would not have been able to make the decision.
Conclusion: Right call
Referee Marciniak overruled Lamine Yamal’s penalty and gave a second one in the second half after Henrikh Mkhitaryan knocked down Yamal, but the Armenian instantly argued it was outside the area.
The decision was amended to a free-kick after VAR’s Dennis Higler concurred. ‘Continuing inside the box’ does not apply in this situation because the rules indicate that the foul is from the first point of contact, so it was a difficult choice.
It is questionable, though, if Mkhitaryan should have been sent off for a second yellow card for the foul.
Conclusion: Right call
The referee blowing early infuriated Inter.
It wasn’t just Barca who felt wronged. Alessandro Bastoni put in a beautiful pass for Nico Barella to grasp onto, and Inter, who were ahead 4-3 at halftime in extra time, sneaked in behind the Barca defence.
But Simone Inzaghi charged onto the pitch as Marciniak sounded the whistle at precisely three minutes of stoppage time.
Before announcing halftime, the Polish official ought to have waited for the offensive to continue.
Conclusion: Wrong call
The handball call by Francesco Acerbi did not sit well with Barcelona.
In the first half, Pedri angrily claimed that Acerbi had blocked his cross with his hand, but Barcelona’s penalty appeal was denied. The ball did hit his arm, according to replays, but it was redirected into it by himself. Because it was a normal movement, the VAR upheld Marciniak’s decision to not give him a penalty, and it’s difficult to argue with the justification offered.
Conclusion: Right call
Gerard Martin was not given a foul by Denzel Dumfries.
Acerbi’s equaliser at the end of normal time was arguably the most talked-about moment. Denzel Dumfries appeared to have fouled Gerard Martin during the build-up before moving to the right and crossing for the 37-year-old veteran.
There didn’t seem to be much of a VAR review on the incident, as Marciniak waved for play to continue.
Close-up video that was later posted online, however, seemed to show Dumfries making contact with Martin, thus the goal should have been denied.
Conclusion: Wrong call
The behaviour of Inigo Martinez towards Francesco Acerbi
During the goal celebrations, Inigo Martinez seemed to spit at Acerbi after Calhanoglou’s penalty was tucked away. Martinez escaped punishment despite VAR’s instant red card check.
The former Athletic Club defender acknowledged spitting, but claimed it was not directed at an opponent. He told reporters after the game, “I celebrated the goal in my ear, I got angry, but the spit was not aimed towards him. Otherwise, I would have been sent off.” Since the video was not definitive at the time, Marciniak was unable to show a red card, but retrospective action could still be taken.
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