Following their dramatic semi-final defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League, Barcelona players have openly criticized Polish referee Szymon Marciniak for his decisions during the match.
The controversial officiating decisions left many Catalan players frustrated, especially after their 7-6 aggregate loss in a thrilling two-legged semi-final.
Referee’s Decisions Stir Up Controversy
Barcelona were particularly upset by several key decisions made by Marciniak during the high-stakes match.
One moment that stood out was a potential handball by Inter Milan’s Francesco Acerbi, which Barcelona players felt should have resulted in a penalty.
However, the most contentious decision came after a VAR review, which awarded Inter a penalty for a tackle by Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi on Lautaro Martinez, giving the Italian side a 2-0 lead just before halftime.
Barcelona’s complaints didn’t end there. In the second half, a penalty appeal for a foul on Lamine Yamal by Henrikh Mkhitaryan was overturned, with the referee judging it to be outside the box.
Another penalty shout came when Denzel Dumfries was accused of fouling Gerard Martin while Barcelona led 3-2, just before Acerbi’s last-minute equalizer sent the match into extra time.
Pedri and Inigo Martinez Speak Out Against Marciniak’s Decisions
Post-match, Barcelona’s midfielder Pedri voiced his displeasure with Marciniak’s handling of the game. “It’s not the first time this has happened with this referee.
UEFA should look into it,” Pedri said, adding that the 50-50 decisions seemed to consistently go against them.
He also highlighted a missed yellow card for Mkhitaryan, which would have resulted in his second booking.
Inigo Martinez also shared his frustration, saying, “Everyone has seen today that the decisions fell on the same side, but I don’t want to dwell on this.
The referee had to make decisions, and he made them the way he did. It’s a shame.”
Barcelona Media Express Their Doubts Over Marciniak’s Impartiality
Before the second leg of the semi-final, Barcelona-based media outlets had already raised concerns about Marciniak’s neutrality.
In particular, Sport newspaper pointed out that the Polish referee had a “favourable history” with Barcelona’s arch-rivals, Real Madrid.
They referenced a video from last year showing Marciniak near a washbag with Real Madrid’s badge, suggesting a potential conflict of interest.
Sport also reminded readers of past controversial decisions involving Marciniak, such as his role in ruling out Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvaraz’s penalty for a double touch against Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16, as well as a disallowed Bayern Munich goal in a match against the Spanish club in 2023-24.
Additionally, the newspaper highlighted a disallowed Chelsea goal in their 2021-22 quarter-final clash with Real Madrid.
Another Barcelona outlet, Mundo Deportivo, went even further, calling the refereeing performance a “robbery” against Barcelona.
“Barca came close to achieving the impossible,” they wrote, referring to Barcelona’s fightback against Inter Milan, “but this time they fell, with their heads held high, despite the scandalous refereeing.”
Flick Expresses Frustration with Referee’s Decisions
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick also shared his frustration with Marciniak’s officiating after the match.
The German coach admitted he had voiced his opinion to the referee following the game, although he declined to elaborate further.
“We think the result is unfair because of some refereeing decisions,” Flick said.
“I don’t want to talk too much about the referee, but every decision that was 50-50 ended up going in their favor. That’s what makes me sad.”
Flick emphasized that while he was disappointed with the referee’s performance, he did not want to overshadow his team’s hard work and effort.
“I’ve told him what I think, but I’m not going to repeat it here. It’s not fair for my team, who have done a huge job.”
Marciniak’s Reputation Remains Strong Despite Criticism
Despite the criticisms, Szymon Marciniak remains one of the world’s top referees.
He was selected to officiate the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France, as well as the 2023 Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan.
Marciniak’s excellence on the field was recognized by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, which named him the World’s Best Referee in both 2022 and 2023.
While Barcelona’s players and fans may feel hard done by, Marciniak’s reputation as a top-tier official has earned him respect in the world of football, even in the face of controversy.