Tue May 06 20:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Controversial Referee Choice Fuels Barcelona Concerns Ahead of Crucial Milan Clash

**Milan, Italy** – FC Barcelona faces a pivotal Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan in Milan, with the tie currently locked at 3-3. However, the appointment of Polish referee Szymon Marciniak has ignited a firestorm of controversy within the Barcelona camp, raising concerns about potential bias.

Marciniak’s past decisions have drawn criticism, particularly his handling of incidents involving Real Madrid. These include disallowing a Julián Álvarez goal in a penalty shootout against Real Madrid without reviewing the VAR, and controversially stopping play before Matthijs de Ligt could complete a goal-scoring opportunity in a Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich match. Adding fuel to the fire, images have circulated showing Marciniak with Real Madrid paraphernalia, and Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel publicly noted the referee’s apparent friendship with Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti.

Further fueling Barcelona’s anxieties is the assignment of Pol van Boekel as VAR assistant to Dennis Hingler. This pairing oversaw the first leg of the Champions League group stage between Inter and Barcelona last season, a match which ended in a controversial 1-0 Inter victory. In that game, a penalty appeal for handball against Inter was ignored by VAR, and a legitimate Pedri goal was disallowed for a prior unintentional handball.

Barcelona’s apprehension centers on the perception of a pro-Real Madrid bias from Marciniak and the VAR team. The club fears this could negatively impact their chances of advancing to the Champions League final. The match promises high stakes and intense scrutiny, with the refereeing team already under a microscope.

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