FC Barcelona forward Raphinha has strongly criticised match officials following the club’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid.
Despite securing a 2-1 victory in the second leg at the Metropolitano Stadium, Barcelona were knocked out on aggregate after suffering a 2-0 defeat in the first leg at home.
Raphinha, who missed the return fixture due to a hamstring injury, voiced his frustration after the match, alleging poor officiating across both legs of the quarter-final tie.
“To me, it was robbed,” he told reporters. “Not only this match, but the other one as well. The refereeing was very bad. Incredible the decisions that they made. Atletico made a lot of fouls and the referee didn’t show a single yellow card.”
The Brazilian winger also appeared to gesture towards Atletico supporters at full-time, suggesting their team would be eliminated in the next round while signalling “robbed” with his hands.
Barcelona’s complaints centre on several controversial decisions across the two encounters. In the first leg, defender Pau Cubarsí was sent off in the opening half, while Eric García received a red card late in the second leg.
The Catalan club had earlier lodged a complaint to UEFA over a penalty appeal not awarded in the first match, and also protested another potential spot-kick during the return leg.
“I wish I could understand the fear that they have to see Barcelona winning,” Raphinha added.
Head coach Hansi Flick had also questioned officiating after the first leg, though he adopted a more measured tone following the second encounter.
“When you see both matches … we were much better than Atletico,” Flick said. “But at the end it’s like that, and we have to accept it.”
Barcelona will now shift focus to domestic action, with a league clash against Celta Vigo next on the schedule. The club currently tops the La Liga table, holding a nine-point lead over rivals Real Madrid after 31 matches.
