FIFA Launches Investigation into Controversial VAR Error During Dortmund vs Barcelona Clash – Referee Maurizio Under Scrutiny
Football fans around the world have been left in shock after FIFA officially acknowledged a major VAR blunder that took place during the thrilling Champions League encounter between Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona. The spotlight has now firmly shifted onto Italian referee Maurizio Ricci and the entire VAR team after what FIFA has labeled a “serious and surprising error” during the high-stakes match.
The controversy erupted in the 63rd minute when Dortmund midfielder Emre Can launched into a reckless, studs-up challenge on Barcelona’s young sensation Pedri. The challenge, which saw the Spanish midfielder writhe in agony, sent shockwaves through the crowd and even prompted immediate protests from several Barcelona players. Despite the severity of the tackle, Ricci opted to show only a yellow card—a decision that was upheld by the VAR officials after a brief review.
FIFA, however, has since confirmed that the VAR protocol was not correctly followed, sparking outrage among fans and pundits alike. In an official statement released this morning, FIFA admitted that the challenge “clearly met the criteria for serious foul play” and should have resulted in a straight red card. The organization expressed its disappointment at the failure of the refereeing team to make the correct call, and confirmed that the incident is now under “careful and thorough examination.”
This dramatic development has triggered a firestorm of criticism, with many accusing FIFA of not doing enough to ensure the consistency and reliability of VAR decisions. Questions are now being raised about how such an obvious error could occur in a match of such magnitude—especially with the presence of advanced VAR technology that was introduced to eliminate precisely these kinds of mistakes.
Barcelona fans, still furious over the incident, have flooded social media demanding accountability and even a formal apology from the football governing body. “That challenge could’ve ended Pedri’s season,” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter). “This isn’t just a missed foul—this is a complete failure of the system. FIFA needs to act.”
Dortmund, for their part, have remained largely silent on the matter, but insiders suggest that even within the German camp, there is surprise that Can remained on the pitch. Had the midfielder been shown red, the dynamics of the game could have shifted significantly—Barcelona were pressing for an equalizer at the time and the man advantage might have changed the result entirely.
FIFA’s disciplinary panel is now expected to meet in the coming days to review the full footage and report of the match, with potential consequences looming not just for referee Maurizio Ricci but also for the entire VAR team who failed to advise a red card. According to sources close to the governing body, there is the possibility of suspensions or removals from future UEFA and FIFA-sanctioned matches.
This isn’t the first time VAR has come under fire, but this latest blunder—acknowledged publicly by FIFA itself—could be the most high-profile admission of officiating failure in recent years. With the Champions League knockout rounds heating up, the pressure is mounting for officials to regain the trust of players, managers, and fans alike.
As the football world awaits the outcome of the investigation, one thing is clear: the controversy surrounding the Dortmund vs Barcelona VAR error has reignited the global debate over VAR’s role in the beautiful game. Will FIFA take strong action to fix the cracks in the system, or will this be yet another footnote in VAR’s
troubled history?