Former Champions League final referee Mateu Lahoz has cast a clear verdict on whether Lamine Yamal should have been awarded a penalty during Barcelona’s dramatic Champions League exit on Tuesday night. Just like the first leg in Catalonia, an all-time classic unfolded - this time at the iconic San Siro - where Inter Milan edged out a 4-3 victory, sealing a 7-6 aggregate triumph and ending Hansi Flick’s side's European campaign.
Simone Inzaghi’s side came flying out of the gates, with Lautaro Martinez opening the scoring inside 21 minutes. Hakan Calhanoglu doubled the lead from the penalty spot just before half-time, but Barcelona came alive in the second half. Within six minutes, Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo had struck to draw the match and the tie level. And then came the controversy.
Referee Szymon Marciniak initially awarded a penalty after Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s challenge on Barcelona’s teenage star Lamine Yamal appeared to carry into the box in the 71st minute. However, after consulting the pitchside monitor, he ruled that the foul occurred just outside the area and instead awarded a free-kick. Had the original call stood - and with Raphinha’s 87th-minute goal still to come - the outcome might have been very different. Watch the incident below:
Former Champions League Ref Casts Verdict on Yamal Penalty Shout
He believes the tackle was a clear penalty for Barcelona
Szymon Marciniak during Inter 4-3 Barcelona
Speaking about the controversial penalty call on Spanish TV, Lahoz - who became known for his talkative and quirky refereeing style as he oversaw La Liga games between 2008 and 2023 - said that he felt Barcelona should have been awarded a penalty. He said:
"It only took one camera to see Cubarsi's penalty, and that's why VAR intervened. If the referee saw more footage of that action, why didn't he go and see the footage of the penalty on Lamine? For me, it was a penalty. [There were two touches that were fouls], One outside of the box and one inside which makes Lamine go down."
ESPN rules analyst Dale Johnson was quick to share a contrasting view on social media, arguing that continued contact into the box doesn't automatically warrant a penalty. He explained that it's the point of initial contact that determines the foul's location - highlighting the grey area that still exists within the rulebook.
yamal-1 Related
Why Barcelona Were Denied Penalty vs Inter Despite 'Continuing Contact Into Box'
The referee initially pointed to the spot and replays showed contact on Lamine Yamal inside the Inter penalty box.
Barcelona’s treble hopes are now officially over, with only the La Liga title left to add to their Copa del Rey triumph. Yet, in the wake of their dramatic Champions League exit, frustration continues to mount in the Catalan camp, with many laying the blame squarely on the officiating, as Francesco Acerbi's added-time equaliser - and Davide Frattesi's subsequent extra-time winner - would have felt like a dagger to the heart of Los Culers, who are not willing to let suspected foul play slide so easy.
Pedri has publicly called on UEFA to investigate referee Marciniak, while Hansi Flick also took thinly veiled shots at the officials in his post-match comments. Ironically, after spending much of the season mocking Real Madrid for their constant referee complaints, Barcelona now find themselves under the same spotlight, accused of the very behaviour they once ridiculed.