Barcelona has lodged an official complaint with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) following their heavy 4-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals. The team expressed their outrage over the officiating, claiming that a series of poor decisions contributed to the lopsided score, particularly pointing to a second-half incident where they believe Atletico's Giuliano Simeone should have received a red card for a foul against Alejandro Balde.

The loss was marred by controversy, most notably because of the disallowed goal by Barca's Pau Cubarsi, which followed an extensive VAR review lasting over six minutes. This delay was exacerbated by the failure of the semi-automated offside technology to deliver a swift ruling, leaving players and coaching staff, including Hansi Flick, puzzled over the sudden turn of events. The entire scenario raised questions not only about the effectiveness of officiating in high-stakes matches but also about the reliability of technological interventions in football.

Barcelona's official complaint underscores a growing frustration among teams regarding officiating standards, particularly with the usage of VAR. As the club seeks clarity on these recent decisions, they join a chorus of voices advocating for accountability and consistency in officiating, which is crucial as the competition progresses and stakes rise higher in Spanish football.