In the intense second match of the UEFA Champions League semi-final between Inter and Barselona (4:3, first match – 3:3), an unfortunate incident occurred. During a heated moment in the first half, a controversial situation arose between the players of both teams. Specifically, Barselona's defender Inigo Martinez's act of kicking the opposing team's defender Francesco Acerbi led to the controversy.
This episode occurred after a penalty awarded by Hakan Calhanoglu in the 24th minute. During the celebration of the goal, Acerbi shouted towards the opposing team's players, at which point Martinez made an inappropriate move and kicked towards the opponent. However, the match's chief referee, Shimon Marciniak, overlooked this situation, showing neither a warning nor a red card to the player.
After the match, in a press interaction, the Spanish defender commented on his action and responded to the criticisms directed at him.
– "Yes, what I did was not right. I understand that well and I regret my action. However, it is important to understand the situation correctly – Acerbi celebrated the score of 2:0 and shouted at me. This was a very provocative act. At that moment, I couldn't control my emotions and kicked towards him, but I did not touch him. If I had kicked him, the referee would have immediately shown me a red card, I know that well and I have no doubt," explained Martinez.
This player's action sparked serious debates on social media and in sports publications. Some football experts and fans sharply criticized Martinez's action, while another group emphasized that he was carried away by emotions and such situations occur in important matches.
Post-match analyses have also led to widespread discussions about the referee's failure to address this episode. Specifically, questions have arisen regarding how the VAR system evaluated this situation and why the referees did not take action.
Inigo Martinez himself apologized to his team and fans after this episode, stating that he would strive to avoid such situations in the future. Additionally, a separate statement from UEFA regarding this incident is expected.
Regardless, despite such situations occurring on the football field, the importance of maintaining sportsmanship and mutual respect has been reiterated once again.
The intense disputes and controversies between Barselona and Inter are likely to be discussed for a long time. Inigo Martinez, meanwhile, is trying to defend himself and put an end to the controversy.
