Barcelona chief Joan Laporta explodes at refereeing “disgrace” after Champions League exit

Barcelona president Joan Laporta did not hold back after the latest refereeing controversy to hit the club in the Champions League.

Speaking during a visit to the Barcelona Open tennis tournament, Laporta unleashed a sharp criticism of officiating decisions in Barcelona’s quarterfinal tie against Atletico Madrid, accusing European football’s governing body of what he described as sustained unfair treatment toward the Catalan club.

“What they did to us was intolerable”

“Congratulations to Atletico for reaching the semifinals, but that does not take away from the need to denounce the refereeing and VAR in yesterday’s match, which was a disgrace,” Laporta said. “What they did to us is intolerable.”

He pointed back to the first leg as well, arguing Barcelona were already on the wrong end of key decisions.

“They did not give us a clear penalty, and they also sent off a player (Pau Cubarsi) when it should have been a yellow card,” he said. “Giuliano did not have full control of the ball, the referee made the right call, but VAR forced him to change it to a red card that hurt us a lot.”

Multiple decisions go against Barcelona

Laporta said Barcelona felt the tie was shaped by multiple decisions going against them across both legs.

“In this tie, the refereeing decisions have hurt us a lot,” he said. “In the second leg, the same thing happened again. They sent off a player (Eric Garcia) when Koundé could clearly have reached the ball, so Eric was not the last man. The referee showed a yellow card, which was correct, but VAR made him change it. Another wrong decision.”

He also insisted Barcelona were denied key moments in the match itself.

“Ferran’s goal was a goal. The penalty on Olmo was a penalty. The challenge on Fermin, you can judge it how you want, but it is unacceptable. They split his lip open and the kid was in serious pain while being stitched up, and there was not even a card shown,” Laporta said.

UEFA complaint escalates

Laporta also confirmed Barcelona will formally respond after UEFA rejected the club’s complaint over a missed penalty in the first leg involving Marc Pubill.

“That is not acceptable,” he said. “We submitted a complaint and UEFA said it was inadmissible. Now we are asking for explanations on why it was not admissible. We will send another complaint because what is not acceptable is what happened to us again yesterday. Decisions that clearly harmed us.”

Strong words for critics

Laporta also fired back at those who argue Barcelona benefit from refereeing decisions over time.

“They are a disgrace,” he said. “Those who say referees favor us are a disgrace. Let them look at this Champions League tie. Nobody believes that.”

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