Barcelona officially lodge RFEF complaint over refereeing errors

FC Barcelona officially protests with a formal complaint over referee decisions during the Copa del Rey first leg against Atletico Madrid.

The Blaugrana, already reeling from Hansi Flick’s heaviest loss since taking charge, channelled their fury into an unprecedented move that underscores deep mistrust in the officiating system.

Club officials, players, and staff left the Metropolitano incensed, viewing key decisions as symptomatic of broader issues plaguing their campaign.

In an official statement released Saturday, FC Barcelona confirmed they filed a formal letter of complaint with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), addressed to President Pedro Rocha, Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) chief Luis Medina Cantalejo, and VAR head and legal director.

The missive expresses “deep concern about the repeated homogeneous criteria” in five areas: inconsistent disciplinary actions, contradictory handball rulings, accumulation of relevant errors, VAR application/transparency, and on-pitch monitor reviews.​

Central grievances include referee Juan Martínez Munuera’s handling of Pau Cubarsí’s 52nd-minute goal – disallowed after a bizarre 6.5-8 minute VAR delay due to semi-automated offside tech failure from “high player density,” forcing manual lines that Barça deem unconvincing.

Further outrage stems from Giuliano Simeone’s unpunished studs-up tackle on Alejandro Balde – a potential red ignored by VAR – contrasting Eric García’s controversial dismissal.

Hansi Flick slammed the “mess” of communication during the stoppage.

The club demands full VAR audio publication regardless of reviews and a public disciplinary code for referee errors, insisting on no professionalism attack but urgent criteria overhaul for competition credibility, uniformity, and equal treatment.

This echoes Negreira scandal fallout, positioning Barça as referees’ fiercest critics amid Real Madrid’s influence perceptions.

With a March 3 return leg and La Liga lead precarious, the complaint shifts focus from on-pitch fixes.

RFEF/CTA responses loom, but Barcelona vows no recurrence tolerance. In a high-stakes season, this bold stand reaffirms their fight for perceived justice.