“No Review Allowed” – UEFA Dismisses Barca’s VAR Protest Over Pubill Handball Incident Against Atletico Madrid

UEFA rejected Barcelona’s protest over a handball incident in their Champions League quarter‑final loss to Atletico Madrid. Barca claimed the penalty denial was a “major error,” but UEFA ruled the complaint inadmissible.

European football governing body UEFA rejected Tuesday Barcelona's complaint over a handball incident in their Champions League quarter-final first leg defeat by Atletico Madrid, hours before the second leg.

Diego Simeone's side won 2-0 at Camp Nou last week and Barca were upset by an incident where Atletico defender Marc Pubill touched the ball with his hand after it appeared a goal kick had been passed to him.

"(After the first leg) Barcelona filed a protest relating to a referee decision. On 13 April 2026, the UEFA Control Ethics and Disciplinary Body declared the protest to be inadmissible," said UEFA in a statement.

Five-time Champions League winners Barca said last week the decision not to award them a penalty was a "major error" which influenced the result and were upset referee Istvan Kovacs was not told to review the incident by the VAR team.

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