Hansi Flick blasts refereeing as Diego Simeone shrugs off controversy in Barcelona home defeat

BARCELONA – Barcelona coach Hansi Flick tore into the officiating after his side’s 2-0 home Champions League quarter-final, first-leg defeat by Atletico Madrid, raging over a second-half penalty call and Pau Cubarsi’s red card that left his team a man down before half-time.

The German’s anger centred on an incident in the 53rd minute, when Barca appealed for a penalty.

Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso appeared to have put the ball in play from a goal kick before defender Marc Pubill handled it inside the six-yard box to retake the goal kick.

Referee Istvan Kovacs waved play on and the video assistant referee (VAR) crew did not call him to the monitor, sparking animated protests from the home bench.

In 2024, Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings was punished for a similar infringement in a Champions League defeat by Club Brugge.

“I don’t know why VAR hasn’t been used. The referee... I think he’s brilliant. We all make mistakes, but what’s the point of VAR? I just can’t understand it. It should have been a penalty, a second yellow and a red card, as he already had a booking. This is exactly what shouldn't happen,” Flick told Spanish broadcaster Movistar Plus.

Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo added that it was “absurd but a clear penalty”.

Atletico manager Diego Simeone saw it differently. “It’s a matter of common sense,” the Argentinian told reporters.

“The referee saw it as it was. That Marc (Pubill) received what appeared to be a pass from his teammate to start the move, the referee saw it the same way as Marc saw it. Then we can look at as many situations as we like.”

Barcelona had already been reduced to 10 men in the 44th minute when Cubarsi was sent off for hauling down Giuliano Simeone as the last man. Julian Alvarez brilliantly curled in the resulting free kick before the interval and Alexander Sorloth sealed the win after the break.

Flick also questioned the dismissal. “I’m not sure if he made enough contact because the ball was behind him; I’m not entirely sure,” he said.

“I don’t know. It might be, or it might not be. I don’t know if he touched him enough. But in other situations, when the ball is touched by the hand, it’s very clear to me.”

Barca, semi-finalists last season, need to make a huge comeback on April 14 in Madrid if they are to stand a chance of lifting the trophy they last won in 2015.

Atletico knocked Barca out of the Copa del Rey in the semi-finals in March and this was the second of three meetings between the sides in the space of a fortnight. REUTERS, AFP