Barcelona’s narrow 2-1 win over Real Valladolid has done little to calm nerves ahead of their decisive Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan—and a controversial UEFA refereeing decision is only heightening tensions in Catalonia.
According to El Nacional, UEFA has appointed Polish referee Szymon Marciniak to oversee the clash at San Siro. While Marciniak is widely respected, having officiated the 2022 World Cup final and last season’s Champions League and Club World Cup finals, his recent track record includes several high-profile blunders. These include disallowing a clear penalty for Julián Álvarez in a Madrid derby and cutting short play during Bayern Munich’s disallowed goal against Real Madrid, for which he later apologized.
Adding to the anxiety, Dutch official Pol van Boekel will handle VAR duties. Van Boekel is a deeply unpopular figure in Barcelona due to controversial calls in their matches against Inter and Bayern in the 2022–23 group stage, as well as his role in the infamous Benzema-Donnarumma incident that helped Real Madrid eliminate PSG.
Barcelona fans and insiders are now worried that these officiating appointments could put additional pressure on an already tense fixture. With the tie finely balanced at 3-3 after the first leg, any refereeing misstep could have massive consequences for Flick’s team.
