UEFA Declares Barcelona’s Handball Protest Inadmissible

European football’s governing body UEFA has dismissed Barcelona’s formal protest regarding a controversial handball decision during their Champions League quarter-final first leg defeat to Atletico Madrid, the organisation confirmed in a statement released Tuesday.

The ruling comes hours before the second leg of the tie, with Diego Simeone’s side holding a 2-0 advantage after their victory at Camp Nou last week. Barcelona had lodged a complaint over an incident involving Atletico defender Marc Pubill, who handled the ball after what appeared to be a goal kick passed in his direction.

“(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,” UEFA stated in its official communication.

The five-time Champions League winners had described the decision not to award them a penalty as a “major error” that influenced the match outcome. Barcelona officials expressed frustration that referee Istvan Kovacs was not instructed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor.

The dismissal of the protest means the 2-0 first-leg result stands unchanged as both teams prepare for Tuesday’s return fixture at Atletico’s Metropolitano Stadium. Barcelona will need to overcome the two-goal deficit to advance to the semi-finals of Europe’s premier club competition.

Handball interpretations have remained a contentious aspect of football officiating since the introduction of stricter guidelines in recent seasons. The incident involving Pubill has reignited debates over consistency in applying VAR protocols during high-stakes European matches.

UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body handles protests and disciplinary matters relating to its competitions, with decisions typically considered final under the organisation’s regulatory framework.