Wenger, Flick criticise referees after Inter Milan is awarded controversial penalty vs Barcelona

Legendary football manager Arsene Wenger and Barcelona coach Hansi Flick have criticised the VAR decision to award a penalty to Lautaro Martinez after Pau Cubarsi’s tackle. read more

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick and former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger have criticised the overall refereeing and Polish referee Szymon Marciniak for the penalty awarded to Inter Milan in the first half of the Tuesday encounter, as the Italian side reached the UEFA Champions League final.

Inter Milan of the semi-final, with substitute Davide Frattesi scoring in the extra time as they progressed to the final 7-6 on aggregate. They will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal in the final.

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One of the turning points of the thrilling match was a penalty that was awarded to Inter’s Lautaro Martinez late in the first half. The penalty was awarded after a VAR review for a last-ditch challenge by Pau Cubarsi on Martinez, which the referee initially did not see as a foul.

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Marciniak also faced scrutiny for reversing a penalty decision in favour of Barcelona after the VAR said Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s foul on Lamine Yamal was just outside the box.

Flick, Wenger slam refereeing, VAR after Inter beat Barca

Barcelona also appealed for a handball inside the box by Inter defender Acerbi and a foul by fullback Denzel Dumfries on Gerard Martin in the build-up to the Francesco Acerbi equaliser, which took the game to extra time.

“I don’t want to talk too much about the referee, but every decision that was 50-50 went (Inter’s) way,” Flick told a press conference. “I am disappointed, but not with my team. They tried everything. It’s the way it is. We are out, but next year we will try again to make the fans happy.

Cubarsi takes Martinez foot, Clear penalty.... pic.twitter.com/zsc66n5iwl — Shane Gillard (@ShaneGillard7) May 6, 2025

“It makes me sad … My team did an excellent job. I don’t like talking about the referee … I’ve told him what I think, but I’m not going to say it here what I’ve said…”

Former Arsenal manager Wenger felt the penalty awarded to Martinez in first half that was eventually converted by Hakan Çalhanoğlu was an unfair decision as the defender Cubarsi was first to the ball, however, the slow motion review made the tackle look like a foul.

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“I’m highly against these kind of penalties. And I’m highly against using slow motion. On normal pace this is a great tackle and he’s first on the ball,” Wenger said on beIN SPORTS.

“Why does he touch him? Look what Lautaro Martinez is doing, he leans into him, he looks for the penalty. He knows he will not score now because he feels him there.

“The referee in this situation shows that he has not made the right decision.

🚨🇫🇷 Arsene Wenger on Inter's penalty: "I'm highly AGAINST these kind of penalties. And I'm highly against using slow motion VAR." ❌🚫 pic.twitter.com/3f18Q7qUl4 — EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) May 6, 2025

“He’s first on the ball and that for me is what counts, the rest is done by Lautaro Martinez. It doesn’t matter if there is contact, it is who plays the ball and who wins the ball first.”

Barca were hoping to clinch a treble after winning the Copa del Rey, but now have only La Liga left to focus on. They are at the top of the table and on Sunday take on rivals Real Madrid, who are four points behind with four games to go.

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