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Rafinha claimed that Barcelona had been “robbed” following their exit from the Champions League

Rafinha claimed that Barcelona had been “robbed” following their exit from the Champions League

Katerina Melnychenko Deputy Editor-in-Chief

15 April 2026, 16:30

Rafinha claimed that Barcelona had been “robbed” following their exit from the Champions League — Barcelona captain Raphinha

Barcelona captain Raphinha, following the team’s elimination by Atlético in the Champions League quarter-finals, sharply criticised the refereeing and claimed that the Catalans had been “robbed”. According to Spanish media reports, UEFA is now reviewing his comments and gestures directed at the stands

In the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final, Barcelona beat Atlético 2–1 at the Metropolitano, but were knocked out on aggregate 2–3 following their 0–2 defeat in the first leg. Reuters and The Guardian report that Atlético’s goal in the second leg proved decisive, and that Barcelona were reduced to ten men late in the match following the sending-off of Eric García.

Rafinha, who missed the tie through injury, publicly criticised the refereeing after the match. According to Reuters, ESPN and Goal.com, the Brazilian claimed the game had been “completely stolen”, described the refereeing as very poor and questioned the criteria used to make decisions against Barcelona.

Among the incidents that caused the most outrage among the Catalans, the media cite the red cards in both matches and the rejected penalty appeal. Reuters also reports that Barcelona lodged an official complaint with UEFA regarding the refereeing after the first match, but it was deemed inadmissible.

Following Rafinha’s emotional statement, AS reported that UEFA is analysing not only his comments about a “stolen match” but also his gestures towards the fans. The publication suggests that disciplinary action may be considered in the case, although no official decision has been made as yet.

Goal.com and a number of other sports media outlets also report that there is a risk of sanctions for the player, though at this stage the focus is on a possible investigation rather than a punishment that has already been handed down. Against this backdrop, Atlético goalkeeper Juan Musso has already publicly responded to the Brazilian’s comments, stating that calling the match “stolen” is an exaggeration.

Thus, following Barcelona’s elimination, the focus has shifted not only to the aggregate score of the two-legged tie but also to a new controversy surrounding the refereeing. For Raphinha, this story may have a sequel off the pitch – in the disciplinary arena of UEFA.

As reported by ThePublic, new reports have emerged in the sports media suggesting that Chelsea midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk has allegedly filed a lawsuit against the UAF and the national team’s physiotherapist Ivan Porobii in connection with a doping case. However, there is currently no official confirmation of this from the player himself or the association, and Mudryk has previously denied reports of a lawsuit against the UAF.

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