Referee Szymon Marciniak became the talk of the town thanks to his controversial decisions in the Barcelona-Inter match in the second leg of the 2025 Champions League semi-final.
It all began in the 24th minute, when Barcelona players demanded a penalty kick after Franceszko Acerbi handled the ball.
Marciniak refused to award the penalty, and VAR upheld his decision. However, it was a highly controversial decision, especially since replays showed that the ball had indeed hit the Inter defender’s hand.
Had the Polish referee awarded the penalty, things would have changed, especially after his other decision at the end of the first half.
مطالبة برشلونة بركلة جزاء بسبب وجود لمسة يد على أتشيربي لا تجد أذاناً صاغية من الحكم وتقنية الفيديو :goal_net::eyes:
ما رأيك؟ :writing_hand:#دوري_أبطال_أوروبا | #إنتر | #برشلونة pic.twitter.com/yLLoZie3uG
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) May 6, 2025
A strong clash occurred between Lautaro Martinez and Barcelona defender Pau Coparsi. Both parties consulted VAR, and Marciniak went to review the play and made a decision.
It was a highly controversial play, and the Polish referee decided there had been contact and, accordingly, awarded a penalty kick to Inter. Hakan Calhanoglu successfully converted it, scoring Inter’s second goal.
In the final moments of the second half, after a historic comeback by Barcelona, Inter scored the third goal, but with another refereeing controversy resulting in a yellow card for coach Flick.
أتشيربي يهدي إنتر هدف التعادل ويشعل المدرجات#دوري_أبطال_أوروبا #انتر_برشلونة #UCL pic.twitter.com/01PeL9Wpuy
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) May 6, 2025
The question remains: Did Marciniak wrong Barcelona? Did the Catalans deserve a penalty kick, or was Inter’s second penalty a valid penalty? Was Inter’s third goal a free kick?
