Barcelona Demands UEFA Probe into Referee Marciniak After Controversial Champions League Exit

 Barcelona Demands UEFA Probe into Referee Marciniak After Controversial Champions League Exit Barcelona has called for a UEFA investigation into referee Szymon Marciniak following their dramatic 7-6 aggregate defeat to Inter Milan in the 2025 Champions League semi-final. The club, backed by players like Pedri and manager Hansi Flick, argues that critical decisions, including a potential handball by Inter’s Francesco Acerbi and a foul by Denzel Dumfries before Inter’s equalizer, consistently went against them. Flick noted that every close call favored Inter, though he refrained from extensive public criticism. The controversy exploded on X, where fans labeled Marciniak a “Madridista” referee, citing his history of decisions, like disallowing a Bayern Munich goal and denying Manchester City a penalty against Real Madrid. Some posts mentioned a rumored Real Madrid-branded washbag Marciniak allegedly carries, though no verified evidence supports this claim. Catalan outlets, including Sport and El Mundo Deportivo, amplified the narrative, questioning Marciniak’s impartiality while referencing Barcelona’s own refereeing controversy, the Caso Negreira, where the club paid millions to a company linked to a former refereeing official. Rivals have used this to counter Barcelona’s complaints, highlighting perceived hypocrisy. The washbag story remains unconfirmed, and UEFA has not addressed Barcelona’s demands. Past investigations, like Negreira, rarely alter outcomes without clear proof of misconduct. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid have a history of refereeing grievances, with the latter filing VAR complaints in 2025 and Barcelona’s 2009 Chelsea match still sparking “UEFAlona” taunts. Without solid evidence, these claims fuel football’s passionate rivalries rather than resolve disputes, leaving fans and media to debate bias in the high-stakes world of elite competition.

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