UEFA issue blunt response to Barcelona’s handball complaint

The UEFA Disciplinary Committee has deemed Barcelona’s complaint “inadmissible” following the controversial incident involving Marc Pubill at Camp Nou, when the defender handled the ball after a pass from Musso. The Catalan side argued it should have been awarded a penalty, while both the referee and Atlético Madrid maintained that play had not yet resumed.

UEFA rejects Barcelona protest over Pubill handball

“Following the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, played on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, between FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid, FC Barcelona submitted a protest related to a refereeing decision. On April 13, 2026, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body declared the protest inadmissible,” the governing body said in an official statement.

The decision triggered significant anger within the Barcelona locker room, as Hansi Flick made clear immediately after the final whistle. The club’s top executives also voiced their frustration, with Rafa Yuste openly criticizing the performance of Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs.

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