Barcelona fury as referee accused of being ‘Madridista’ after chaotic Inter defeat

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May 7, 2025 - 17:30
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Barcelona fury as referee accused of being ‘Madridista’ after chaotic Inter defeat
Referee Szymon Marciniak (left) awards a penalty to Inter Milan during their dramatic Champions League semi-final second-leg victory over Barcelona, as Pau Cubarsí (centre) holds his head in disbelief and Iñigo Martínez (right) looks on at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, Milan, Italy, 6 May 2025
Referee Szymon Marciniak gave a series of decisions in favour of Inter Milan that angered their Spanish opponents - Shutterstock/Daniel Dal Zennaro

Barcelona players and Catalan media outlets have called for Uefa to investigate Szymon Marciniak, labelling the Polish referee a “Madridista” who was once pictured next to a wash bag with Real Madrid branding.

Marciniak left Barça furious with his decisions during the epic Champions League semi-final defeat at Inter Milan in which they lost 7-6 on aggregate thanks to Davide Frattesi’s extra-time winner at San Siro.

Hansi Flick’s players were incensed at Marciniak turning down a penalty appeal when Inter defender Francesco Acerbi appeared to handle in the area.

The ball appears to hit the hand of Inter's Francesco Acerbi (on ground) under pressure from Barcelona forward Dani Olmo (cenre) during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 semi-final second leg match at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 6, 2025 in Milan, Italy.
Francesco Acerbi kicked the ball on to his own hand while trying to clear and VAR agreed with the referee that when the ball is deflected on to the hand by another ‘valid’ part of the body, in a natural movement, it is not to be considered a punishable handling offence. - Getty Images/Stefano Guidi

They were also aggrieved at the Polish referee awarding Inter a penalty after a pitch-side review for Pau Cubarsí’s tackle on Lautaro Martínez .

Marciniak subsequently overturned a penalty appeal when Henrikh Mkhitaryan tripped Lamine Yamal and the foul continued in the area.

Barcelona felt there was a foul by Denzel Dumfries on Gerard Martínin the build-up to Federico Acerbi’s 93rd-minute equaliser.

Barça midfielder Pedri led the calls for a probe into Marciniak, claiming: “It’s not the first time that this has happened to us with this referee, Uefa should look at it. There are things that I don’t understand and they are complicated to explain.

“All 50-50s are for them. In the penalty to Lamine [Yamal], which was then a foul, he did not give Mkhitaryan a yellow card, which would have been the second.”

Marciniak also received a complaint from Inter after it appeared Iñigo Martínez spat in the direction of Acerbi after the penalty that gave Inter a 2-0 lead. The 44-year-old official did not take further action but the incident could be looked at by Uefa. Martínez, meanwhile, took aim at the referees for his decisions against Barça.

“Everyone has seen today that the decisions fell on the same side, but I don’t want this to be talked about,” said Martínez. “In the end he [the referee] had to make decisions and he made them that way. It’s a shame.”

Catalan media outlets questioned Marciniak’s appointment as referee for the second leg of the semi-final ahead of the San Siro classic, with Sport suggesting he had a “favourable history” with rivals Madrid.

The newspaper also posted footage of Marciniak’s dressing room for the Champions League semi-final two years ago when a wash bag with Real Madrid’s bag was clearly seen in the changing area next to where he was speaking.

The daily highlighted Marciniak disallowing Julián Alvarez’s “double-touch” penalty for Atletico Madrid against Real earlier in the competition. 

He also ruled out a Bayern Munich goal against Real last season and chalked off a Chelsea strike in 2022 against the Spanish giants.

Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo said: “Flick’s team overcame Inter’s initial 2-0 and the scandalous refereeing of the ‘Madridista’, who deprived Barça of a penalty for hands and whistled a very rigorous one against.”

Barcelona manager Flick added: “Every decision that was 50-50 went [Inter’s] way. I am disappointed, but not with my team. 

“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...”

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