A retired referee who once officiated matches for FIFA has publicly supported Szymon Marciniak, the match official responsible for overseeing the UEFA Champions League semi-final clash between FC Barcelona and Inter Milan. The game was a thrilling encounter that concluded with Inter Milan narrowly defeating Barcelona 4-3. This result allowed the Italian team to progress to the tournament final in Munich, having won the two-legged tie with an aggregate score of 7-6.
Following the intense match, several members of the Barcelona squad—both players and staff—voiced strong dissatisfaction with some of the decisions made by referee Marciniak. Among the most outspoken critics was Barcelona midfielder Pedri, who urged UEFA, European football’s governing body, to examine Marciniak’s officiating more closely. Pedri alleged that the referee had previously made controversial decisions in matches involving Barcelona, and he specifically criticized an incident during the match involving young player Lamine Yamal. In that moment, Marciniak initially awarded a penalty kick to Barcelona, but after consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the decision was overturned and changed to a free kick instead.
Pedri went further to express his belief that Inter Milan’s player Henrikh Mkhitaryan should have received a second yellow card for his role in that same incident. According to Pedri, this would have resulted in Mkhitaryan being sent off from the match. He stated, “In the situation involving Lamine Yamal, where the referee originally gave a penalty that was later downgraded to a free kick, there was no card shown to Mkhitaryan. That should have been his second yellow card.”
Barcelona defender Eric Garcia also shared his teammate’s frustrations. He remarked that questionable officiating seems to occur frequently whenever Barcelona plays at Inter Milan’s home stadium. Reflecting on his past experiences there, Garcia said, “This is the third time I’ve played here, and every time something strange happens that doesn’t benefit us. Everyone remembers the incidents with the referees the last time we played at this stadium. It’s not an excuse for conceding seven goals overall, but it’s part of the pattern we’ve observed.”
Despite the vocal criticism from players, Barcelona’s manager Hansi Flick took a more measured stance. While he acknowledged that some of the referee’s calls may not have favored his team, he emphasized the importance of respecting the decisions made on the field. “There were perhaps some decisions that didn’t go our way,” Flick said, “but as professionals, we have to accept them.”
In response to the backlash, a former FIFA referee came to Marciniak’s defense, likely suggesting that the decisions made during the match were in line with the official rules and protocols of the game. Nevertheless, Marciniak’s officiating has become a hot topic among football fans and analysts. The debate has highlighted broader concerns about the consistency and fairness of refereeing, especially in crucial, high-pressure matches such as a Champions League semi-final.
