Szymon Marciniak responds sharply to criticism: "I'm ready for anything"!

Polish referee Szymon Marciniak fired back firmly at the criticism levelled by coach Hansi Flick, FC Barcelona players, and the Spanish media following the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals.

The match, played at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, was marred by refereeing controversies. Marciniak notably awarded a penalty to Inter Milan after Pau Cubarsí challenged Lautaro Martínez. At the same time, he turned a blind eye to a suspected handball by Francesco Acerbi in the box, which the Blaugrana vehemently appealed for.

At 44, Marciniak has faced an intense media campaign in Catalonia, with some accusing him of bias and questionable decisions that hastened Barça's elimination. Others have even claimed he repeatedly favored Real Madrid in the past.

Szymon Marciniak stands by his decisions

Speaking to Alqaheranews , the referee of the last World Cup final was unequivocal: "The comments are ridiculous. What can I say about these stupid remarks? I haven't wronged anyone."

He also doubled down on his decisions: "I don't understand this criticism. Every decision I made during the match was correct."

Regarding Inter Milan's third goal, he was adamant: "The third goal for Inter was absolutely legitimate."

Finally, when asked about a possible lawsuit from FC Barcelona, he replied with a smile: "I'm ready for anything."

Read also: Inter vs PSG: All you need to know about the 2025 Champions League final (date, stadium, broadcast)!

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.