Wahala full ground for Barcelona camp after dem crash out of Champions League quarter-final to Atletico Madrid. The whole gist na say refereeing decisions spoil the match, and some big voices for Barca side don dey yarn am strong. Raphinha, the Brazilian winger wey dey injured, watch the second leg for Metropolitano stadium and come vex proper. Him talk say “Fue un partido robado, el arbitraje estuvo muy mal. Fueron increíbles las decisiones que tomaron,” meaning the match was stolen and the officiating was terrible. Him complain say Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone commit plenty fouls but no see any yellow card. Raphinha even suggest say na fear make Barcelona no win the match.
But for the other side, Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso respond to Raphinha him talk. Musso say dem no fit call the match robbery because Atletico win the game on the pitch. Him talk say “No se puede hablar de robo. Entiendo lo que pueda decir Raphinha, lo que pueda decir cualquiera, pero nos pongamos la serie como que fue un robo, porque no fue así. Lo ganamos dentro de la cancha.” So the two sides no gree at all.
The wahala start from the first leg wey Barcelona lose 0-2 for Camp Nou. Then for the return leg, Barcelona try to come back. Dem equalize the aggregate score by minute 24, but Ademola Lookman score for Atletico by minute 31 to make am tough again. Barcelona no fit score another goal, so dem crash out. After the match, Jota Jordi, one Barcelona commentator and former player, explode for social media. Him post messages like “UEFA tramposos” and “Esto es la UEFA de Ceferín, el amigo de Florentino,” accusing UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin of bias. Him talk say UEFA no give two clear penalties, expel two Barcelona players, and no expel Atletico captain Koke.
Jota Jordi yarn the matter for TV program ‘El Chiringuito‘ and call the whole tie “una eliminatoria robada,” not just one match. Him count say Atletico commit 42 fouls for the two legs but only get three yellow cards, and none for the last match. Him mention specific incidents: no penalty call for handball by Atletico’s Jonny (Pubill) for first leg, and no penalty when Atletico’s Stefan Savić (Le Normand) foul Barcelona’s Fermín for second leg. Him talk say “Le han destrozado la cara y no pita penalti. Qué más tienen que hacer?” meaning dem destroy Fermín face but no call penalty. Him also talk say Musso break Fermín nose but nothing happen.
Jota Jordi insist say this kind thing always happen to Barcelona for Europe under Čeferin. Him talk say UEFA even release statement against Barcelona the same day of the match, which add to the controversy. The anger no stop there. Toni Freixa, former Barcelona director, also use social media to vent. Him write say “Molt superiors al conjunt de l’eliminatòria. L’antifutbol i arbitratges dirigits han impedit la classificació. Vergonya de competició. Hecha para tramposos,” meaning Barcelona were superior but anti-football and directed refereeing stop them, calling Champions League a shameful competition made for cheats.
Freixa no accept the defeat and accuse the referees and UEFA of robbery. This elimination make am eleven years since Barcelona last win Champions League for 2015, and frustration dey high for Barcelona supporters. Many of them believe French referee Clément Turpin was the problem, though some critics point say Barcelona forget their own past with payments to former referees’ committee vice-president José María Enríquez Negreira in Spain. The matter still dey hot, and e go still dey talk for days to come.
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