Barcelona midfielder Pedri has publicly urged UEFA to launch a formal investigation into the refereeing performance of Szymon Marciniak and the VAR officials Pol Van Boekel and Dennis Higler, following Barcelona’s dramatic 4-3 defeat to Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League semifinal at San Siro. The young Spanish star expressed frustration and disappointment with what he described as “unacceptable decisions” that had a significant influence on the outcome of the match.
Pedri highlighted several moments in the game where he felt the officiating team failed to apply the rules fairly and consistently. While he acknowledged the quality of the opposition, he insisted that key refereeing decisions went against Barcelona at crucial moments. According to Pedri, these controversial calls, including a disallowed goal and a possible penalty not reviewed properly by VAR, shifted the momentum of the game and unfairly disadvantaged Barça.
Adding to the controversy is the history between Barcelona and the same group of officials. Szymon Marciniak was also the match referee during a similarly dramatic 3-3 group stage draw between Barcelona and Inter Milan at Spotify Camp Nou in 2022. In that match, Barcelona also had several complaints regarding officiating inconsistencies, including missed fouls and a contentious handball decision. Meanwhile, Pol Van Boekel and Dennis Higler served as the VAR officials during Barcelona’s 1-0 defeat to Inter at San Siro in the same group stage campaign — a match that also saw criticism aimed at the officiating crew for what many perceived as biased decisions.
Pedri pointed out this pattern, emphasizing that the recurrence of the same officials in multiple controversial fixtures involving Barcelona and Inter raises legitimate concerns about neutrality and accountability. “This is not the first time we’ve felt this way when these officials are in charge. It’s time for UEFA to look into it seriously,” he said in his post-match comments.
He also called for greater transparency from UEFA regarding how referees and VAR officials are appointed, especially in high-stakes matches. Pedri urged the governing body to ensure that such critical games are overseen by officials with no history of contentious decisions involving the same teams, in order to preserve the integrity of the competition.
Barcelona have yet to release an official club statement regarding the matter, but Pedri’s comments have sparked widespread discussion among fans and analysts, with many echoing his call for an investigation. The semifinal loss means Barça’s hopes of winning another Champions League title will have to wait, but the fallout from the match may continue as pressure mounts on UEFA to address the growing concerns about refereeing standards and VAR consistency in elite European competitions.
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