UEFA throw out Barcelona VAR protest as 'inadmissible' after complaints over 'grave lack of intervention' during Atletico Madrid Champions League tie

The Catalan giants were left angered by an incident surrounding a potential penalty, after Atletico Madrid's Marc Pubill, already on a yellow card, handled the ball in the box.

Though Pubill stopped the ball with his hand after goalkeeper Juan Musso had appeared to have taken a goal kick, Barca's penalty appeal was turned down by referee Istvan Kovacs while VAR Christian Dingert did not intervene.

Though Barcelona claimed this was "a major error", UEFA's Control Ethics and Disciplinary Body have thrown out the protest as "inadmissible."

A UEFA statement said: ”Following the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg played on Wednesday 8 April 2026 between FC Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid, FC Barcelona filed a protest relating to a referee decision. On 13 April 2026, the UEFA Control Ethics and Disciplinary Body declared the protest to be inadmissible.”

The incident took place with Altletico leading 1-0 at Camp Nou, courtesy of a Julian Alvarez free-kick goal after Barcelona's Pau Cubarsi had been sent off.

Alexander Sorloth netted a second goal in the 70th minute to give Atleti a 2-0 lead heading into Tuesday night's second leg at the Metropolitano, which you can watch live on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max from 19:30 UK time.

Barca head coach Hansi Flick was furious after the officials' failure to give a spot-kick and a second yellow card for Pubill.

"For me, it's a clear red card, well a second yellow card and a penalty," Flick said. "[The VAR] can explain why it's not [reviewed the play]. I can't believe it's not a red card. It feels not good. It feels unfair.

"The VAR was very focused today for Atlético. It's a German guy, so thanks Germany."

Meanwhile, TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole, was in agreement, insisting that Pubill should have seen red after a "lapse in judgment."

Cole said: "Absolutely [it's a handball offence] as we've seen it before. The ball is in play. There's no pressure on him, so there's no reason for him to get panicky. It's just a lapse in concentration. It should be a penalty.

"Pubill is then on a yellow card already, so he should get sent off. You get your stroke of luck. I thought the referee was OK tonight as he let things go, but I thought he got this one wrong.

"It happened to Tyrone Mings [for Aston Villa against Club Brugge last season] and we as footballers can do strange things, but the rules are the rules. Barcelona are very unlucky not to have been given a lifeline back into the game."

Barcelona had described the Pubill incident as a "significant error" in their complaint to UEFA.

The club statement read: "The club's legal services have filed a formal complaint with UEFA regarding the events that occurred in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final match played against Atletico Madrid.

"The club believes that there was refereeing conduct contrary to current regulations, with a direct impact on the course of the match and its result.

"The complaint focuses on a specific incident. In the 54th minute of the match, after play had correctly resumed, an opposing player handled the ball inside the penalty area without a penalty being awarded.

"Barcelona consider that this decision, together with the grave lack of intervention from VAR, constitutes a significant error. Consequently, the club has requested the opening of an investigation, access to the referees' communications and, where appropriate, official acknowledgment of the errors and the adoption of the relevant measures.

"In this same regard, Barcelona consider that this is not the first time that, in recent editions of the UEFA Champions League, incomprehensible refereeing decisions have seriously harmed the team, creating a clear comparative disadvantage and preventing them from competing on equal terms with other clubs."

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