aAlthough Rafinha did not play a single minute, he became one of Barcelona’s most vocal critics after Barcelona’s Champions League defeat against Atlético Madrid, launching a fierce attack on the refereeing controversy.
Referee controversy sparks Rafinha’s fury
The Brazilian, who was sidelined due to injury, traveled to the capital to watch the Blaugrana’s loss to Cvitas Metropolitano in the Champions League quarter-finals. Although Barcelona won the second leg 2-1, they were eliminated with an aggregate score of 3-2.
Hansi Flick’s side showed their individuality with goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres to level the score, but Ademola Lookman’s decisive strike sealed Atltico Madrid’s place in the Champions League semi-finals.
The final blow was the red card shown to Eric Garka after a tough challenge on Alexander Sourlos, but the incident unleashed Rafinha’s anger.
“It was a total robbery,” he said candidly. “There were a lot of problems with the referee. There were unbelievable decisions. I don’t know how many fouls Atltico Madrid committed without getting a card.”
Barcelona also claimed a penalty against Dani Olmo in the first half, another play that fueled the refereeing controversy, but the Brazilian declined to focus on one incident.
The Blaugrana’s complaints are not isolated. This is the second consecutive match in which a club has questioned a Champions League referee, after UEFA recently rejected a formal appeal against a decision in the previous game.
“It’s human to make mistakes, but for it to happen again…” Rafinha argued. “We played a great game, but they stole a draw from us. It looks like we’re going to have to work three times as hard to win.”
