| NEWS Pedri Calls For UEFA to Investigate Referee Szymon Marciniak After Inter 4-3 Barcelona

Pedri has called for UEFA to investigate referee Szymon Marciniak’s performance after Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League by Inter Milan on Tuesday night. The Catalan giants have pointed the finger at the Polish match official, who oversaw one of the most thrilling games in the competition’s long history, following their exit.

Barca were minutes away from securing their place in the Champions League final after taking a 3-2 lead in the 87th minute through Raphinha, whose goal put the visitors 6-5 up on aggregate at the San Siro. However, Inter forced extra-time thanks to Francesco Acerbi’s dramatic equaliser in the third minute of stoppage-time.

Many fans remain convinced that Gerard Martin was fouled in the build-up to Inter’s equaliser, which was expertly dispatched from close range by 37-year-old Acerbi. Subsequent slow-motion replays suggest Barcelona supporters may have every reason to feel aggrieved.

The pulsating two-legged tie was eventually settled by Davide Frattesi, who kept his composure in extra-time and sent the home fans into raptures with a superb finish past veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. Barcelona’s players gave everything to try and force a penalty shootout but Inter stood firm and secured a 7-6 aggregate victory that will be spoken about for many years to come.

In the aftermath of the match, however, Pedri explained to reporters why he wants UEFA to look closely at Marciniak’s refereeing display. “This isn’t the first time this has happened to us with this referee, and I think UEFA should look into it. There are things that are hard to explain,” the world-class midfielder told El Partidazo de Cope, per The Mirror.

“There were many situations. Every 50/50 went their way, and on the penalty on Lamine [Yamal], which was later called a free-kick, he didn’t give [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan a yellow card, which would’ve been his second.”

Per World Soccer Talk, Pedri appeared to be referencing Marciniak’s officiating in a previous Champions League encounter between the two sides, which also ended in a 3-3 draw, during the 2022-23 group stage. That result ultimately contributed to Barca’s elimination and subsequent drop to the Europa League.

Barcelona will now have to dust themselves down from this bitter disappointment and regroup ahead of Sunday’s huge La Liga clash against fierce rivals Real Madrid. Victory would all but guarantee Hansi Flick’s side the league title, but defeat would set up a grandstand finish to the season with only three matches remaining after this weekend.

losers. The ‘foul’ in that replay is not a foul. Not all contact is a foul, he kicks the back of the Inter player’s leg and there is the finest of touches from the Inter player first, which didn’t affect anything.