Barcelona point the finger at ‘Madridista’ referee: Players call for UEFA investigation and papers dredge up his mystery ‘washbag’ history as Inter’s epic 7-6 semi-final win is hit by ‘bias’ claims
Barcelona stars have hit out at Polish referee Szymon Marciniak following their Champions League semi-final exit, with Catalan media having labelled the official a ‘Madridista’.
Hansi Flick’s side suffered a 7-6 defeat on aggregate after a thrilling two legged semi-final, with Inter winning 4-3 on the night after extra time.
Barcelona were incensed by several decisions by Marciniak during the match, with midfielder Pedri calling UEFA to investigate the official.
The Catalan giants believed they showed have been awarded a penalty for an apparent handball by Inter defender Francesco Acerbi.
Inter were then awarded a spot-kick after a VAR review for Pau Cubarsi’s tackle on Lautaro Martinez, which saw the hosts take a 2-0 lead on the stroke of half-time.
Barcelona saw a penalty overturned in the second half with Henrikh Mkhitaryan adjudged to have fouled Lamine Yamal outside of the box.
Barcelona players called for referee Szymon Marciniak to be investigated amid bias claims
The Catalan giants claimed Marciniak gave Inter Milan all the 50/50s in their semi-final clash
Barcelona based papers highlighted a video published last year which saw the official in the same dressing room as a washbag which carries the Real Madrid logo
A further appeal for a penalty for an alleged foul by Denzel Dumfries on Gerard Martin when Barcelona were leading 3-2 was also highlighted, shortly before Acerbi’s last-gasp equaliser to send the tie to extra time.
‘It’s not the first time that this has happened to us with this referee, UEFA should look at it,’ Pedri claimed post-match.
‘There are things that I don’t understand and they are complicated to explain.
‘All 50-50 are for them. In the penalty to Lamine, which was then a foul, he did not give Mkhitaryan a yellow card, which would have been the second.’
Inigo Martinez added ‘Everyone has seen today that the decisions fell on the same side, but I don’t want this to be talked about.
‘In the end he had to make decisions (the referee) and he made them that way. It’s a shame.’
The choice of Marciniak as the referee for the semi-final second leg against Inter Milan had been questioned by Barcelona based media in the build-up to the match at the San Siro.
Barcelona based newspaper Sport had claimed that Marciniak has a ‘favourable history’ for their arch rivals Real Madrid.
Barcelona were angered by the awarding of a penalty to Inter for Pau Cubarsi’s tackle on Lautaro Martinez
Marciniak was asked to take a second look at the challenge by VAR and decided to change his mind and award a penalty to Inter Milan, much to the dismay of the Barcelona players
Ronald Araujo is held back by his manager Hansi Flick as Barcelona’s bench gets involved
Hakan Calhanoglu scored from the spot to put Inter Milan 2-0 up on the stroke of half-time
Sport highlighted a video published on social media last year, which had seen Marciniak in a changing room near a washbag featuring Real Madrid’s badge.
‘Marciniak’s call-up by UEFA for this key match was met with skepticism, given the previous controversies he was involved in,’ Sport wrote. ‘Such as the video in which he can be seen in the locker room with a Real Madrid bag’.
The newspaper highlighted how Maricniak had been the referee when Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvaraz saw his penalty ruled out for a double touch in the last-16 against Real Madrid, with Los Blancos advancing to the quarter-finals as a result.
Sport also claimed he had been involved in a controversial decision to rule out a Bayern Munich goal against Real Madrid in the 2023-24 Champions League.
Chelsea having a disallowed goal against the Spanish giants in the 2021-22 quarter-finals was also highlighted by the outlet.
Mundo Deportivo, another Barcelona-based newspaper, claimed the club were victims of a ‘robbery’ against Inter.
‘Barca came close to the feat again, as they did in the final against Madrid to lift the title, but this time they fell, although with their heads held high,’ Mundo Deportivo wrote.
‘Flick’s team overcame Inter’s initial 2-0 and the scandalous refereeing of the ‘Madridista’, who deprived Barça of a penalty for hands and whistled a very rigorous one against.’
Barcelona players claimed Henrikh Mkhitaryan should have been shown a second yellow card for his foul on Lamine Yamal
Barcelona were beaten 4-3 after extra time on the night to lose the tie 7-6 on aggregate
Julian Alvarez’s disallowed penalty was highlighted as a decision to benefit Real Madrid by Barcelona based media
The Atletico Madrid star’s penalty was ruled out for a double touch, with Real Madrid progressing to the quarter-finals
Barcelona boss Flick had joined his players in expressing frustration at the official post-match.
The German admitted he told the official ‘what I think’ post-match, before declining to comment further on his display.
‘We think that the result is unfair because of some refereeing decisions, I have to say it,’ Flick said.
‘I don’t want to talk too much about the referee, but every decision that was 50 to 50 ended up being in their favour, that’s what makes me sad.
‘I don’t like to talk about the referee anymore, I’ve told him what I think, but I’m not going to repeat it here now, it’s not fair for my team either, who have done a huge job.’
Despite Barcelona’s complaints, Marciniak has long been viewed as one of the world’s top officials.
The official oversaw the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France, before taking charge of the 2023 Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan.
Marciniak was awarded the title of World’s Best Referee in 2022 and 2023 by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.
