Referee Szymon Marciniak Hits Back At Barcelona Conspiracy Theories After Inter Milan Champions League Clash: ‘Ridiculous’ | OneFootball

Referee Szymon Marciniak feels the conspiracy theories around the Champions League clash between Inter Milan and Barcelona are “ridiculous.”

As the Corriere dello Sport, via FCInter1908, highlight, the Polish FIFA referee has had little patience for the suggestion that his refereeing favoured Inter.

Referee Szymon Marciniak has received no shortage of criticism in Spanish media in the last couple days.

There have been numerous conspiracy theories that the Polish official favoured Inter.

Even Barcelona midfielder Pedri argued that “UEFA must investigate” Marciniak for his refereeing of the match. Among these have been the notion that Marciniak has a bias towards Real Madrid.

Particularly after the controversy surrounding the round of sixteen penalty shootout between Real and Atletico Madrid.

Marciniak Brands Inter Milan Vs Barcelona UCL Conspiracy Theories “Ridiculous”

DORTMUND, GERMANY – MARCH 23: Referee Szymon Marciniak reacts during the UEFA Nations League Quarterfinal Leg Two match between Germany and Italy at Football Stadium Dortmund on March 23, 2025 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

There were a few decisions that many Barcelona fans – as well as media outlets in Spain – have argued went Inter’s way.

First of all, there was a handball by Francesco Acerbi inside the Inter area. Marciniak did not give a penalty, because he did not see the contact by the defender’s hand as intentional.

Then, there was the penalty that Marciniak awarded to Inter after advice from VAR.

Next, Barcelona fans raged at the penalty that the referee initially awarded to the Blaugranas for a foul by Henrikh Mkhitaryan on Lamine Yamal.

Marciniak changed that to a free kick on the edge of the area. This was after VAR concluded that the foul did not continue into the penalty area.

Then, there is also the idea that Denzel Dumfries had fouled Gerard Martin in the buildup to Francesco Acerbi’s stoppage time equalizer.

However, Marciniak hit back. “These are all ridiculous ideas,” he said.

“I didn’t hurt anyone,” he said of his refereeing.