According to reports, Barcelona’s officials and players, including Hansi Flick, blamed Marciniak as one of the main reasons for their elimination against Inter in the Champions League semifinals. Barcelona, who dreamed of returning to the final after 10 years, harshly criticized the Polish referee following their painful exit.

Meanwhile, Inter emphasized their tactical superiority and competitive spirit, as they now prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the final.

Barcelona’s players and officials, one after another, blamed Marciniak’s refereeing for their Champions League elimination, turning their dream of reaching the final into a nightmare.

Joan Laporta, Flick, Pedri, Araujo, and Gavi directly accused the referee and his decisions for their elimination. They even hinted at an alleged intention to prevent Barcelona from reaching the final.

Gavi, without naming anyone, said: “They were scared,” referring to the refereeing decisions. Eric García also stated: “The result didn’t favor us due to reasons outside football. Everyone knows what happened to us before with this referee.”

Spanish outlet Marca inquired with UEFA about their stance on the controversy and whether there were any issues with Marciniak. The response was clear: “There are no issues.”

Marciniak is one of UEFA and FIFA’s favorite referees. He will officiate in the Club World Cup, with Tomasz Kwiatkowski, who disallowed Julián Álvarez’s penalty in the Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid match, assisting him in the VAR room. The presence of a French team in the Champions League final increases the likelihood of Marciniak being selected to referee the match. Previously, Clément Turpin, currently considered Europe’s best referee, was a strong candidate.