Barcelona's 2-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League quarter‑final first leg sparked a formal protest. The Catalan club argues that a clear handball by defender Marc Pubill warranted a penalty and a second yellow, which referee Istvan Kovacs and VAR Christian Dingert ignored. Coach Hansi Flick labelled the decision a “clear red card” and a “penalty”.

Barça’s legal team submitted a complaint to UEFA on Wednesday, citing “refereeing conduct contrary to regulations” that altered the match outcome. The filing requests access to the officials’ communications and an official acknowledgment of the error. Barcelona adds the incident follows a pattern of controversial calls in recent Champions League campaigns that it says have disadvantaged the club.

With the second leg at the Metropolitano looming, the 2-0 deficit forces Barcelona to chase a sizable comeback. Should UEFA open an investigation, the club hopes to overturn the result or secure disciplinary action against the officials. As it stands, Atlético advances with a two‑goal cushion, leaving Barça’s quarter‑final hopes hanging on a match. A successful response would require at least three goals without reply.