Raphinha Accuses Referee of ‘Robbery’ as Barcelona Crash Out of Champions League

Barcelona winger Raphinha has launched a scathing attack on match officials, claiming his team were “robbed” following their elimination from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid.

Despite securing a 2-1 victory in the second leg at the Metropolitano on April 14, Barcelona were knocked out of the quarter-finals after losing 3-2 on aggregate. Atletico Madrid advanced to the semi-finals, where they will face either Arsenal or Sporting Club.
 

Raphinha, who missed the match due to injury but watched from the bench, expressed his frustration over what he described as questionable refereeing decisions. “This match was completely stolen. The referee had many issues. Some of his decisions were unbelievable,” he told reporters after the game.
 

Barcelona had mounted a strong comeback attempt, with Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres scoring early to level the tie. However, a decisive goal from Ademola Lookman ultimately sealed Atletico’s progression.
 

The situation worsened for Barcelona late in the match when Eric Garcia received a red card for a last-man foul on Alexander Sørloth, effectively ending their hopes of forcing extra time. Raphinha criticized the inconsistency in officiating, questioning why multiple fouls by Atletico players went unpunished.
 

The controversy adds to Barcelona’s growing frustration with referees in recent matches. The club had previously filed a complaint to UEFA over decisions in their earlier fixture, but the governing body dismissed it as “inadmissible.”
 

Head coach Hansi Flick acknowledged his team’s strong performance but admitted disappointment at the outcome. “Over the two legs, we deserved to be in the semi-finals,” he said, while praising his players’ effort and mentality.
 

Barcelona’s exit from the Champions League marks another setback this season, following their earlier elimination from the Copa del Rey by Atletico. However, the club remains in a strong position domestically, leading the La Liga table with seven matches remaining.
 

Flick emphasized that the team must now refocus on securing the league title, stating that there is still much to play for despite the European disappointment.