‘There are strange decisions‘ — Eric Garcia breaks silence on refereeing controversy against Atletico Madrid | OneFootball

Eric Garcia was one of the main talking points the last time FC Barcelona took to the field, as he was shown a direct red card by the referee in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie against Atletico Madrid, thus virtually ending the hopes of a comeback for the Catalans.

A few days after that difficult night, the Spanish defender attended an event for the promotion of a book and also answered some questions related to his team.

As Mundo Deportivo has reported, the 25-year-old Barcelona defender spoke about the controversy surrounding refereeing in the two matches against Atlético Madrid, which led the club to file formal complaints to UEFA. He reflected on the incidents but avoided placing all responsibility on match officials.

“I think that in these competitions, you always need a bit of luck. It is clear that things didn’t go even slightly in our favour. I won’t put all the blame on the referees, but there are strange decisions that are hard to understand.”

He also addressed the perception of inconsistency in refereeing criteria involving Barcelona, while acknowledging that such situations are part of the game. Having been directly affected by the sending off in the second leg, he elaborated on his view of how decisions are applied.

Looking back on the match itself, Garcia highlighted Barcelona’s reaction despite the difficult scoreline and the emotional setback of the dismissal. He emphasized the team’s effort and learning process, particularly given the squad’s relative inexperience in key European moments.

“We had moments in the match at 0-2 when we believed. It was a tough blow. The team’s image was very good. With our limited experience, we are learning, and we need to start managing these kinds of matches better.”

Eric Garcia was directly affected by a controversial refereeing decision and thus has every right to complain. However, it remains to be seen whether his comments would have any effect and help Barcelona going forward.