Barcelona Escalates UEFA Complaint Over Atlético Officiating, Claims Costly VAR Errors Changed The Tie

Barcelona have filed a new complaint with UEFA over the refereeing in their Champions League quarterfinal tie against Atletico Madrid, the club said in a statement released on Thursday. The Catalan side argued that several decisions across both legs did not match the laws of the game and said improper VAR intervention affected key moments in the series.

The complaint comes after Barcelona had already lodged a formal protest following the first leg, when they felt disadvantaged by the officiating of Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs. UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Committee later rejected that earlier appeal.

Barcelona’s new stance on the tie

In its latest statement, Barcelona said it believes “multiple refereeing decisions” across the two matches were based on an incorrect application of the rules and on inadequate VAR involvement in actions of major importance. The club added that the “accumulation of these errors” had a direct impact on the matches and on the final outcome of the tie.

Barcelona also said the disputed calls created “significant sporting and economic damage” for the institution. That wording underlines how strongly the club views the effect of the officiating on one of the most important fixtures in European competition.

What the club wants from UEFA

The Spanish club used the complaint to repeat earlier requests to UEFA and said it remains willing to cooperate with the governing body to improve refereeing standards. Barcelona said its goal is to help ensure a more rigorous, fair and transparent application of the rules of the game.

That position suggests the club is not only seeking a review of the specific tie, but also pushing for broader changes in how high-stakes European matches are managed. The wording also reflects a desire to keep the dispute within formal channels rather than through public confrontation.

Key points from Barcelona’s complaint

1. Barcelona says refereeing decisions across both legs went against the rules.
2. The club cites what it sees as incorrect VAR intervention in decisive incidents.
3. Barcelona claims the mistakes influenced both the match flow and the final result.
4. The club says the episode caused sporting and financial harm.
5. Barcelona has asked UEFA to help improve the refereeing system.

Earlier protest already rejected

Barcelona’s latest move follows its previous complaint after the first leg, which centered on Kovacs’ handling of the match. UEFA’s disciplinary body dismissed that challenge, leaving the club without relief from the initial protest.

The new filing keeps the issue active and places further scrutiny on referee oversight in the Champions League, where VAR decisions often face close examination. For Barcelona, the matter now extends beyond one game and into a broader argument about consistency, accountability and the impact of officiating in elite European football.