Barcelona star Pedri believes UEFA ‘should look into’ the performance of referee Szymon Marciniak following their Champions League semi-final exit.
The Spanish giants were sent packing from the competition after they lost 7-6 on aggregate to Inter Milan following one of the most dramatic second legs in history.
Barcelona’s stars bemoaned a string of decisions made by referee Szymon MarciniakGettyIt looked like Barcelona would be heading to their first Champions League final in ten years when Raphinha struck in the 87th minute to put the visitors ahead 3-2 on the night at the San Siro and 6-5 on aggregate.
But Francesco Acerbi popped up with the equaliser in the third minute of second-half stoppage time before Davide Frattesi scored the winner in the 99th minute.
However, Barcelona’s primary frustrations lay with a number of refereeing calls that could have played a decisive factor earlier on.
Inter were awarded a penalty following a VAR check in the first half after Pau Cubarsi was deemed to have fouled Lautaro Martinez inside the box.
Barcelona also had a penalty chalked off by VAR as a review found the foul committed by Henrikh Mkhitaryan on Lamine Yamal occurred on the edge of Inter’s 18-yard box rather than inside it.
The fact Mkhitaryan escaped a booking for the foul left Pedri frustrated given the Armenian was already walking a disciplinary tightrope.
“This isn’t the first time this has happened to us with this referee, and I think UEFA should look into it,” Pedri told El Partidazo de Cope.
“There are things that are hard to explain.
“There were many situations. Every 50/50 went their way, and on the penalty on Lamine, which was later called a free-kick, he didn’t give Mkhitaryan a yellow card, which would’ve been his second.”
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick was another who was left apoplectic with a number of Marciniak’s decisions.
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In fact, the German even received a booking for his protests following Acerbi’s strike after he believed Gerard Martin was fouled by Inter’s Denzel Dumfries – who provided the assist for the equaliser – in the lead-up to the goal.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Flick confirmed he gave Marciniak a piece of his mind but hailed his team who gave ‘everything’.
“I don’t want to talk too much about the referee, but every decision that was 50-50 went (Inter’s) way,” Flick said.
“I am disappointed, but not with my team. They tried everything. It’s the way it is. We are out, but next year we will try again to make the fans happy.
“It makes me sad… My team did an excellent job.
“I don’t like talking about the referee… I’ve told him what I think, but I’m not going to say it here what I’ve said.”
AFPIt is not the first time Marciniak drew the ire of Barca’s players[/caption]Eric Garcia, who scored Barcelona’s first goal of the evening, added his voice to the chorus of frustration regarding Marciniak.
However, he acknowledged the fact his side shipped an alarming number of goals across both legs was a driving force behind their devastating Champions League exit.
“Football has been cruel to us,” Garcia told Movistar Plus.
“I have come to Inter Milan’s stadium three times and things always happen that are beyond our control.
“We all know what happened with this referee when we came here last time.
“But it’s no excuse, they have scored six goals against us.”
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