UEFA React As Barcelona Demand Investigation Over Szymon Marciniak’s Officiating

UEFA have responded after Barcelona star Pedri told the governing body to investigate the performance of referee Szymon Marciniak in the Champions League semi-final defeat to Inter Milan.

Having been 2-0 down before leading 3-2 on the night going into stoppage time, Barca conceded a stoppage time equaliser when 37-year-old Francesco Acerbi popped up at the death and forced extra time.

David Frattesi bagged the winner in the 99th minute to send Inter to a second Champions League final in three years but Barca were furious about a number of key decisions which they felt went against them – including a penalty conceded, two spot-kick incidents which were not awarded and an alleged foul on Gerard Martin in the build-up to the last-gasp leveller.

Hansi Flick claimed that Inter got the benefit of the “50-50 decisions”, while a furious Pedri didn’t hold back in the mixed zone.

“It’s not the first time this has happened with this referee and I believe UEFA should have a look at it,” the 22-year-old said.

“I think there are things I don’t understand and they are very hard to explain.”

In addition, Gavi and Ronaldo Araujo, as well as Barcelona president Joan Laporta, have also laid into the referee.

The media in Barcelona also added to the furore, with Catalan outlet SPORT insinuating Marciniak has an association of sorts to Real Madrid after being pictured in a dressing room with a Los Blancos washbag, while also highlighting previous decisions where he officiated them.

UEFA issue response to Barcelona referee controversy
However, UEFA saw no issue with the display from Marcinak, who refereed the World Cup final in 2022 and the Champions League final less than a year later.

According to MARCA, UEFA maintain their support in the Polish official as when the outlet asked about Marcinak, they stated, “There is no problem”.

In fact, Marcinak is a contender to referee the final between Inter and Paris Saint-Germain because one of the other leading referees, Clement Turpin, is unable to because he is French.

He will also be present at the Club World Cup in the United States in the summer.

After a Middle Eastern outlet ran quotes claiming Marciniak had responded the backlash, Polish outlet Przegląd Sportowy Onet responded and clarified no such interview had been given.

“The statements published by the Egyptian and Spanish media, which resonated strongly on social media, turned out to be a big lie,” the outlet said.

“A referee is not allowed to make post-match comments about decisions he has made. As Szymon Marciniak himself informed us , no such statement took place.”