Behind the scenes – the financial police come into play!

The explosive match between FC Barcelona and Inter Milan, which ended in a 3-4 defeat for the Catalans, continues to rock European football. But it’s not just the seven goals that are setting the stage for debate: the refereeing decisions of Szymon Marciniak, now at the center of a media and legal storm, have sparked an unprecedented scandal. The Polish referee has just been suspended indefinitely by FIFA following a mysterious VAR system malfunction during the match.

A VAR “failure” that changes everything

In the 75th minute of the match, a controversial play between Mkhitaryan and youngster Lamine Yamal was briefly checked… before the video assistance system was suddenly declared “out of order.” According to sources in the Italian newspaper  La Gazzetta dello Sport , UEFA technicians have detected “unidentified” external interference on the VAR signal – a first in Champions League history.

The result? No red card for Mkhitaryan, no penalty for Barça, and a few minutes later, Francesco Acerbi’s decisive goal, tainted by a possible foul on Gerard Martin, was upheld. The VAR was “silent,” the Catalans furious.

The shadow of a conspiracy?

Accusations are flying from all sides. Catalan media are crying foul about “institutional collusion,” with some even going so far as to suspect Marciniak of affinities with Real Madrid. An old rumor that the Polish referee was invited to a private dinner hosted by a Madrid sponsor in 2022 has resurfaced. The Italian financial police have even reportedly opened an investigation into possible suspicious financial flows surrounding the match.

“This isn’t the first time this referee has penalized us in a decisive match,” said a stunned Pedri. “If UEFA doesn’t react, then this is all just a well-orchestrated performance.”

Marciniak responds… and defends himself

Asked after the match, Szymon Marciniak had a scathing reaction:

“I will not respond to such ridiculous accusations. I have nothing to reproach myself for. If they want to complain, let them do so. I am ready.”

But FIFA, under pressure from public opinion and several federations, decided to act. A terse statement announced that Marciniak was “temporarily excluded from any appointment until further notice,” while the investigation into VAR interference is completed.

A bolt from the blue… and lasting consequences

The controversy rages on: Arsène Wenger, a consultant for beIN Sports, said he was “shocked” by how the final stages of the match unfolded. “How can a tool as crucial as VAR fail at the crucial moment? It’s disturbing.”

Meanwhile, social media is exploding. The hashtag #VARGate is trending in Europe. Theories are circulating about deliberate hacking, or even the involvement of an illegal betting cartel operating out of Asia.

What’s next?

FC Barcelona has officially filed a complaint with UEFA, including an 84-page dossier containing video footage, technical analysis, and witness statements. President Joan Laporta is calling for a “complete overhaul” of UEFA’s VAR systems and a permanent ban on Marciniak from all European competitions.

One match, one breakdown, and the whole of Europe is left wondering: is the biggest club competition still credible? The answer may come… in the next twist.