Viewers of Thursday night’s Europa League action have taken to social media, to unveil a collective theory surrounding the VAR frustrations of Barcelona and Juventus.
For those not aware, both Barca and Juve were left seething on the back of their respective fixtures this evening.
This came after the two giants of the game were denied potentially crucial late spot-kicks, in their respective meetings with Manchester United and Nantes.
First, en route to a 2-2 stalemate at the Camp Nou, Xavi Hernandez’s Blaugrana saw their appeals waved away by referee and VAR team alike, after the ball struck the arm of Fred in the penalty area.
I prefer not to speak pic.twitter.com/odDGIvYOiB
— Ezenwayi Camp Nou 💙❤️ (@Jiji_Byte) February 16, 2023
Then, amid a disappointing evening against Ligue 1 strugglers Nantes, Juventus were also left feeling hard done by.
In another rejected penalty claim, a VAR review saw it ultimately decided that the Bianconeri were guilty of a prior infringement, before ball came to hand in the visitors’ box in Turin.
As showcased below, fans of Barcelona and Juventus, alongside neutrals alike, have pushed the suggestion that the two continental heavyweights are being retrospectively punished by UEFA, for their respective efforts to establish a European Super League:
Barcelona and juventus. 2 of the 3 founding members of european superleague getting dodgy calls from referees. https://t.co/qarkbZPqpy pic.twitter.com/zthj9FFMNR
— Achraf 🇲🇦 (@Achrafcb_) February 16, 2023
UEFA robbing Juventus
UEFA robbing Barcelona (?)
UEFA robbing Madrid 🔜Super League founding clubs btw, seems like they are fighting us their own way
— 🃏Medii (@MediiBlanco) February 16, 2023
Great Job getting Barcelona and Juventus down, are you gonna be able to get the other teams too? Or only Super League teams?
— Malek Shabbana (@MalekElsayed1) February 16, 2023
Starting to get really difficult to not conclude that uefa is targeting Barcelona and Juventus because they can’t go after Perez and Real Madrid. https://t.co/ctYIBwCjol
— Kareem (@kimo_musr9) February 16, 2023
That super league is back firing at Barca now UEFA won’t give any decisions in Barca real juve favour be it in the CL or Europa league https://t.co/p2YyKYlBQt
— Abdullah Khan (@Abdullah24931) February 16, 2023
legit see the hand and ball nah Uefa is againt Super league clubs
— Messi Goat (Jose) (@Ace_Jose0) February 16, 2023
Starting to think EUFA has a agenda for all super league involved teams. Expecting Real Madrid , Barca , Juve and all of em to be getting some biased calls in the coming months
— BagChaser 💰 (@BagChaser_43) February 16, 2023
Barca and Juve robbed because they are still supporting the Super league https://t.co/kRvqQ5PM5Z
— Ahoy 🇪🇸🇮🇹 (@Ah0y_) February 16, 2023
