Champions League – Barça manager Hansi Flick criticizes the referees after home defeat against Atletico Madrid

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick stormed into the referee after his side’s 2-0 home defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, furious over a second-half penalty and Pau Cubarsi’s red card that left his team a man down before half-time.

Flick’s anger focused on an incident in the 53rd minute, when Barcelona called for a penalty.

Goalkeeper Juan Musso appeared to have put the ball into play from a goal kick before defender Marc Pubill handled it inside the six-yard box to take the goal kick again. Referee Istvan Kovacs waved on and the VAR crew did not call him to the monitor, leading to animated protests from the home bench.

«I don’t know why VAR wasn’t used. The referee… I think he’s brilliant. We all make mistakes, but what’s the point of VAR? I just can’t understand it. It should have been a penalty, a second yellow and a red card because he already had a booking. This is exactly what shouldn’t happen,» Flick told Spanish broadcaster Movistar Plus.

Atletico manager Diego Simeone saw it differently.

“It’s a matter of common sense,” Simeone told reporters.

«The referee saw it as it was. Marc (Pubill) receiving a pass from his teammate to start the move, the referee saw it the same way Marc saw it. Then we can look at as many situations as we want.»

Barcelona had already been reduced to ten men in the 44th minute when Cubarsi was sent off for bringing down Giuliano Simeone as the last man. Julian Alvarez brilliantly curled in the resulting free-kick before the break and Alexander Sorloth sealed the victory after the break.

Flick also questioned the dismissal.

«I’m not sure if he made enough contact because the ball was behind him; I’m not completely sure,» he said.

«I don’t know. It could be, or it might not be. I don’t know if he touched it enough. But in other situations, when the ball is touched with the hand, it’s very clear to me.»

Published on April 9, 2026