UCL Controversy: Referee Szymon Marciniak Fires Back at Barcelona’s Criticism After Fiery Semi-Final Clash.
Tuesday night’s Champions League semi-final between Inter Milan and FC Barcelona delivered drama, goals, and—unsurprisingly—controversy.
But the spotlight didn’t stay on the players for long.
Instead, it quickly shifted to Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, who now finds himself at the centre of a storm after officiating the thrilling 4-3 encounter.
The seasoned referee, who famously took charge of the 2022 World Cup final, is being accused by Barcelona fans and Spanish media of poor officiating that they believe cost the Catalan giants a place in the final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Tensions escalated when a video surfaced showing Marciniak near a Real Madrid-branded wash bag, triggering outrage and conspiracy theories among Barça supporters, who now accuse him of bias.
Some Barcelona players, including Lamine Yamal, making their complaints known to the Polish referee Szymon Marciniak
One of the biggest talking points was Inter Milan’s third goal, scored by Francesco Acerbi.
Barcelona fans insist the goal should have been disallowed due to a foul on young Gerard Martin by Denzel Dumfries in the lead-up.
The goal sent the tie into extra time, where things only got more heated.
Another flashpoint came when Marciniak awarded a penalty against Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi after initially appearing to wave play on following a challenge on Lautaro Martinez—a decision confirmed by VAR but condemned by the Blaugrana faithful.
The backlash has been intense. Calls for an official UEFA investigation are growing louder, and Barcelona are reportedly drafting a formal complaint against the referee’s handling of the match.
Marciniak, however, is not staying silent. Speaking to Middle Eastern outlet Al Qahera, he hit back at the criticism with a blunt statement: “What can I say about these stupid comments? I didn’t wrong anyone.”
When asked about the controversial equalizer that changed the game’s momentum, he stood firm: “Inter’s third goal was definitely valid.”
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, though careful with his words, hinted at frustration over the officiating.
“I don’t want to say much about the referee, but every 50/50 seemed to go their way. We gave everything—it just hurts when decisions go like that,” he said.
While Inter fans celebrate a hard-fought victory and a ticket to face PSG in the final, the refereeing debate rages on.
For Marciniak, however, the message is clear: he’s standing by his calls—criticism or not.
UCL Controversy: Referee Szymon Marciniak Fires Back at Barcelona’s Criticism After Fiery Semi-Final Clash. THE END.
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