Laporta launches fierce attack on UEFA after Barcelona’s Champions League exit: ‘We are seeking explaination’

Laporta launches fierce attack on UEFA after Barcelona’s Champions League exit: ‘We are seeking explaination’

Barcelona are still reeling from their Champions League elimination at the hands of Atletico Madrid, and the frustration inside the club shows no signs of fading.

This time, the strongest reaction has come from Joan Laporta, who has publicly vented his anger over what he believes were decisive refereeing errors across both legs of the quarter-final.

Speaking during his recent public appearance, Laporta did not hold back.

While he acknowledged Atletico’s qualification, he made it clear that, in his view, the tie had been heavily influenced by controversial decisions, particularly involving VAR.

“Congratulations to Atletico on reaching the semi-finals, but that doesn’t stop me from criticising the refereeing and VAR in yesterday’s match, which was a disgrace.

“What they have done to us is intolerable. In the first leg, they didn’t award us a penalty that was a clear-cut case, and they also sent off one of our players (Pau Cubarsi) when it was only a yellow card.

“Giuliano [Simeone] didn’t have the ball under control. The referee made the right call, but VAR made him change his mind, giving a red card that really hurt us,” Laporta complained.

There is more to the story

The Barcelona chief went further, insisting that the issues were not limited to a single incident but instead formed a pattern across both matches.

According to him, the second leg only deepened the sense of injustice felt within the club.

“It’s been a tie in which the refereeing decisions have really hurt us. The same thing happened in the second leg.

Laporta has hit out at the referees. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

“They sent off one of our players (Eric Garcia) when Kounde could easily have reached the ball, so Eric wasn’t the last man.

“The referee showed a yellow card, which was the correct decision, but VAR made him change his mind. Another wrong decision.

“Furthermore, Ferran’s goal was a goal. The foul on Olmo was a penalty; judge the tackle on Fermín however you like, but it is intolerable.

“They split his lip open and the lad was in unspeakable pain while they were stitching him up, yet he didn’t even get a card.”

There is an official complaint

Laporta also confirmed that the club’s battle is not limited to public statements.

Barcelona have already taken formal steps by lodging complaints with UEFA, and the president made it clear that the matter is far from closed.

“It is not admissible. We lodged a complaint and UEFA replied that it was not admissible.

“We are now seeking an explanation as to why that complaint was not admissible.

“We will send another complaint because what is not admissible is what they did to us again yesterday. Decisions that have clearly disadvantaged us,” he concluded.

Source: AS