FC Barcelona forward Raphinha has launched a scathing attack on match officials following his side’s controversial UEFA Champions League quarter-final exit to Atlético Madrid.
Despite securing a 2-1 victory in the second leg on Tuesday, Barcelona crashed out 3-2 on aggregate, having lost the first leg 2-0. The tie was marred by disciplinary drama, with the Catalan giants finishing both legs a man down.
Speaking after the match, Raphinha who missed the tie due to a hamstring injury did not hold back in his criticism of the officiating.
“For me, we were robbed,” he said. “The refereeing was really bad. The decisions were unbelievable. I don’t know how many fouls Atlético made, but they didn’t get a single yellow card.”
Barcelona had mounted a spirited comeback, with goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres leveling the aggregate score. However, Ademola Lookman restored Atlético’s advantage with a clinical counter-attacking finish in the first half.
The turning point came in the second half when Barcelona defender Eric García was sent off following a VAR review for a last-man foul on substitute Alexander Sørloth.
Raphinha suggested the repeated nature of officiating decisions against his team raised deeper concerns.
“Everyone can make mistakes, but when they keep happening in the same way, it’s something we need to look at,” he added. “It feels like we have to work three times as hard to win.”
The Brazilian winger also stirred controversy post-match by gesturing toward Atlético fans, suggesting Diego Simeone’s side would not progress beyond the semi-finals.
UEFA has since confirmed that its disciplinary body will review reports from the match before deciding whether to take action against the player.
Meanwhile, Atlético goalkeeper Juan Musso dismissed Raphinha’s claims, insisting the result was fair.
“You can’t say this match was stolen it’s ridiculous,” Musso said. “We won 2-0 away, and when you’re the last man back, a red card is the correct decision.”
The heated fallout underscores the tension surrounding one of the competition’s most dramatic quarter-final ties, with officiating once again at the center of debate in European football.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
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