Three Controversial Decisions That Ended Barcelona’s Champions League Dream
Barcelona’s Champions League campaign came to a frustrating end at the Metropolitano. Although they secured a 2–1 win on the night, their elimination against Atletico Madrid will be remembered as much for controversial refereeing decisions as for the football itself.
In a high-intensity match, three key calls by referee Clément Turpin and the VAR team proved decisive, leaving Barcelona players and fans wondering what might have been.
First incident
Just before halftime, Dani Olmo went down inside the penalty area after contact from Marcos Llorente. The midfielder had beaten his marker and was preparing to shoot but was nudged off balance. Despite strong appeals, Turpin allowed play to continue, and VAR, led by Jérôme Brisard, did not intervene. The decision sparked immediate debate, with refereeing analyst César Barrenechea Montero stating that awarding a penalty would also have been a reasonable call.
Second incident
A serious collision occurred between Fermín López and Juan Musso. As Fermín attempted to head a cross from Lamine Yamal, Musso’s follow-through caused a nose injury to the young Barcelona player. Medical staff treated him on the pitch, but he was able to continue playing.
Third incident
After a disallowed goal from Ferran Torres, the decisive moment came in the 77th minute. Alexander Sørloth broke through on goal and was pulled down by Eric García. Although the play was initially flagged offside, VAR overturned the decision. After reviewing whether it denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity, Turpin sent off Eric García. Reduced to ten men, Barcelona were unable to recover in the closing stages.
These three moments ultimately shaped the outcome, ending Barcelona’s European run amid significant controversy.