The arbitrage has been highly controversial in the Champions League during the last matches. FC Barcelona complained twice, both in the first leg and in the second leg, after facing Atletico Madrid. From Marc Pubill’s handball to the expulsions of Pau Cubarsi and Eric Garcia, the Catalan club had plenty to criticize. Real Madrid also expressed discontent with Mr. Slavko Vincic, particularly regarding the second yellow card given to Camavinga, which led to his expulsion against Bayern Munich. The two Spanish giants weren’t alone, as even the UEFA president himself admitted to being confused.
“Sometimes, fans cannot understand the different interpretations of the rules from one match to another, and I understand them,” stated Alexander Ceferin at The Forum. “Even I don’t get it anymore. For example, with handballs, no one understands anything. Whether it’s a penalty or not, whether it’s intentional or not… How can you know, you’re not a psychiatrist!” These remarks from the UEFA boss, who works closely with the referees associated with the institution’s competitions, may come as a surprise. Is there a need to make a gesture towards Real and Barca?
For a long time, the two clubs have been declared enemies of UEFA. They openly supported the European Super League project until Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s intervention at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano conference aimed to promote peace. “What we are trying to explain to the referees is that it is the referee on the field who decides,” continued the Slovenian leader on Thursday. “VAR should only intervene in clear and obvious errors. And the interventions should be brief, not like sometimes in La Liga or the Premier League, with 10 or 15 minutes of stoppage to check an action.”
Clubs and governing bodies anticipate change. According to the UEFA president, it is essential to adhere strictly to the regulations, to avoid mistakes and the ambiguity that can arise from contentious situations. He believes that all clubs experience errors, but none have directly complained to him. However, Ceferin is aware of a growing disconnect between the various stakeholders in the sport, especially with the referees. It’s time to address this to prevent further incidents like the ones involving Raphinha’s comments about Clément Turpin and a “stolen match” last week.
Published on: 23/04/2026 21:48 Updated on: 24/04/2026 11:01
