MADRID (AP) — Barcelona forward Rafinha criticized the referee after the game. Barcelona’s defeat They will face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Rafinha did not play for the following reasons: hamstring injuryHe also gestured towards Atletico fans after the match, seemingly hinting that the team will be eliminated in the next match. He also made a “theft” sign with his hand toward the crowd at the Metropolitano Stadium.
Barcelona won 2-1 on Tuesday, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the fixture. Lost 2-0 at home last week.
“For me, it was stolen,” he told reporters. “Not only in this game, but in other games as well. The referees were very bad. Their decisions were unbelievable. Atlético committed a lot of fouls, but the referee didn’t show a single yellow card.”
Barcelona had Pau Kvarsi sent off in the first half of the opening game and showed Eric Garcia a red card in the 79th minute on Tuesday.
Barcelona also complained about the decisions of other referees during both matches. The players lodged a complaint with UEFA about a potential penalty being awarded in their favor in the first leg, and on Tuesday the players lodged a further penalty.
“I wish I could have understood their fear of having to see Barcelona win,” Rafinha said.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick complained after the first leg, but said he would not talk about the referee after his return. He said the team deserved more luck considering how they played.
“If you look at both games… we were much better than Atlético,” Flick said. “But in the end it is what it is and we have to accept it.”
Barcelona’s next game is against Celta Vigo in the Spanish league. The Catalan club leads the league with a nine-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid after 31 matches.
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