Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona referee under investigation

Barcelona demands answers while the referee from their painful Atletico Madrid defeat comes under investigation for multiple moments.

Directors, staff, and players left the Metropolitano furious at a series of calls they believe undermined any chance of a comeback in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.

Behind the scenes, senior figures are now weighing up their next steps as frustration with Spanish refereeing reaches a new peak under Hansi Flick.

At the centre of the storm is referee Juan Martínez Munuera, whose handling of Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona – and especially the VAR team’s intervention – is now under intense internal scrutiny at Barça, with the club seriously considering filing a formal complaint with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Referees Committee (CTA), as reported from Mundo Deportivo.

The flashpoint came early in the second half when Pau Cubarsí’s goal, which would have reduced the deficit to 4-1, was subjected to an extraordinary review that dragged on for around six-and-a-half to eight minutes before being ruled out for offside.

Barcelona were left stunned not just by the outcome, but by the explanation: the semi-automatic offside technology supposedly malfunctioned due to “high density of players,” forcing VAR to manually draw lines – a justification the club finds deeply unconvincing.

Anger was compounded by another key flashpoint – Giuliano Simeone’s brutal tackle on Alejandro Balde in the second half, which many inside Barça saw as a clear red card offence.

VAR did not even recommend an on-field review, a decision that has been branded incomprehensible by figures close to the dressing room.

Flick, who admitted Atletico “taught them a lesson” in the first half, still slammed the officiating as “a mess,” highlighting the total lack of communication during the prolonged VAR stoppage.

Now Barcelona’s hierarchy is collating footage, reports, and legal options, with strong indications that a formal complaint will be filed demanding clarification and accountability.