Barcelona forward, Raphinha has criticized the match officials following his team’s exit from the Champions League against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
The Brazilian winger condemned the officiating, questioning the outcome and igniting further controversy surrounding the Champions League elimination.
Despite not participating in the match, Raphinha emerged as one of the most vocal detractors after FC Barcelona’s Champions League exit against Atlético Madrid, launching a fierce critique of the refereeing issues.
The Brazilian, who was sidelined due to injury, made the trip to the capital to witness the Blaugrana’s defeat at the Cívitas Metropolitano in the Champions League quarterfinals. Barcelona was eliminated with a 3-2 aggregate score, even after winning the second leg 2-1.
Hansi Flick’s team displayed resilience with goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, which equalized the tie, but a crucial goal from Ademola Lookman secured Atlético Madrid’s advancement to the Champions League semifinals.
The final setback occurred with the red card issued to Eric García following a harsh challenge on Alexander Sørloth, an event that provoked Raphinha’s outrage.
“It was a complete robbery. The referee faced numerous issues. There were astonishing decisions. I cannot comprehend how many fouls Atlético Madrid committed without receiving a card,” he said.
Barcelona also sought a penalty for Dani Olmo in the first half, another incident that intensified the refereeing controversy, although the Brazilian refrained from concentrating on any particular event.
The Blaugrana’s frustration is not an isolated case. This marks the second consecutive match in which the club has raised concerns about the Champions League officiating, following UEFA’s recent dismissal of a formal complaint regarding decisions in the prior game.
“It is human to err, but for it to occur again. We played exceptionally well, yet they deprived us of the tie. It appears we must exert three times the effort to secure a victory”, Raphinha emphasized.