Marc Pubill Refutes Barcelona Penalty Claims Following Champions League Quarter-Final Controversy

Atletico Madrid's Marc Pubill breaks silence on the denied Barcelona penalty, claiming the controversial handball was not a foul under UEFA’s interpretation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 17, 2026, 3:55 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from YSScores

The Handball Incident That Divided the Quarter-Finals

The first-leg clash between Atlético Madrid and Barcelona at the Cívitas Metropolitano has been overshadowed by a high-profile refereeing dispute involving defender Marc Pubill. In the 54th minute of the match, Atlético goalkeeper Juan Musso played a short pass to Pubill inside the penalty area following a goal-kick. Believing that the ball was not yet in play, Pubill stopped the ball with his hand to reset the position. Barcelona players immediately swarmed referee Istvan Kovacs, demanding a penalty for a deliberate handball, but the Romanian official and the VAR team remained unmoved, allowing play to continue without a sanction.

Marc Pubill Breaks Silence on Defensive Decision

Speaking to the media following the match, Marc Pubill defended his actions and the subsequent decision by the officiating crew. The right-back asserted that the incident did not constitute a foul because he believed the restart procedure had not been correctly completed. "UEFA has already given its version, so there's no need to elaborate," Pubill stated, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo. He emphasized his view that such technicalities should never result in a penalty, describing his opinion as clear and suggesting that the outcry from the opposition was an overreaction to a non-existent offense.

Barcelona Files Formal Complaint Over Refereeing Errors

The refusal to award the spot-kick has prompted an aggressive response from the Barcelona hierarchy, led by President Joan Laporta. The Catalan club filed a formal complaint with UEFA, describing the officiating in the first leg as "unfathomable" and a "major error." Barcelona officials argue that once Musso kicked the ball and it moved clearly, it was live according to the Laws of the Game. The club is seeking access to the communications between the VAR room and the on-field referee, asserting that the lack of intervention significantly altered the trajectory of the two-legged tie.