10.4.2026
UEFA has suspended Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs from Champions League matches for the remainder of the season.
According to reports by Diario Sport, UEFA took this decision following errors he committed during the Champions League match between Barcelona and Atletico, which ended in a 2-0 victory for the Madrid side.
During the match at the Nou Camp there were a number of controversial decisions, which Barcelona FC had protested. These include a possible foul in the Atletico penalty area which did not result in a penalty being awarded. There were also incidents in the match reviewed by the VAR system, including the moment that led to Pau Cubarsi’s sending off.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was frustrated by the decisions: “I don’t know why VAR didn’t intervene,” Flick told Movistar.
“We all make mistakes, but what’s the point of VAR? This is what can’t happen.”
Meanwhile, Kovacs will whistle at the FIFA World Cup starting in June.