Barcelona are preparing a formal complaint to Spanish football authorities following a series of contentious officiating decisions during their 4-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final on Thursday evening.
The Catalan club’s anger stems from a disallowed goal by Pau Cubarsí in the 52nd minute, a perceived lack of disciplinary action against Atlético’s Giuliano Simeone for a pair of forceful challenges, and what they believe was a failure to utilize the semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) correctly.
The disallowed goal, which would have narrowed Atlético’s lead to 3-1, sparked immediate controversy. After a lengthy VAR review lasting almost six minutes, the goal was ruled out for offside. However, Barcelona officials and players have expressed confusion over the decision, citing a malfunction with the SAOT system. According to reports, the system failed to provide a definitive offside call due to the number of players involved in the play, forcing officials to draw the offside lines manually.
“They said something about the system being broken, but then I saw an image where it’s clear that it wasn’t offside,” Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong told reporters after the match. “If the call is based on the replay I saw… then it’s a scandal, because it’s crystal clear.”
The use of manual lines, a method previously employed before the introduction of SAOT, has further fueled Barcelona’s frustration. Iturralde González, a former referee and expert analyst for Cadena SER, explained that the SAOT system tends to falter when numerous players are closely positioned, requiring officials to resort to manual assessment. He confirmed that the offside call was determined to be against Cubarsí, not Robert Lewandowski as some initially believed.
Adding to Barcelona’s discontent was the perceived leniency shown towards Giuliano Simeone. Manager Hansi Flick felt Simeone should have received a yellow card for an early foul on Alejandro Balde, a decision that was not made. Later in the match, Simeone committed another forceful challenge on Balde, which Barcelona players and staff argued warranted a red card. The referee, however, allowed Simeone to remain on the pitch.
“The truth is, none of the referees’ decisions have gone our way lately,” Barcelona defender Eric García said after the game. “Giuliano’s tackle on Balde was a clear red card. It’s these kinds of decisions where it seems straightforward to make calls against us.”
Flick echoed García’s sentiments, stating, “The first action against Balde was a yellow. Definitely. It would have been completely different if he’d shown it. By not showing it, you’re inviting this kind of play. For me, it’s a mess.”
Despite the heavy defeat and the controversial decisions, Barcelona remain optimistic about their chances of overturning the tie in the second leg at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Flick expressed confidence in his team’s ability to mount a comeback, stating, “We have two more halves and we’ll fight. If we win 2–0 in each half… we’ll need our fans at home.”
Eric García also voiced his belief in the team’s ability to progress, adding, “We can turn it around. We’ve made some great comebacks at this stadium, but You’ll see still 90 minutes to play and with the squad we have we can turn it around. I think we’re a better team than them.”
Barcelona’s formal complaint is expected to be lodged with the Spanish Football Federation in the coming days, seeking clarification on the officiating decisions and the functionality of the SAOT system during the match.
