UEFA Suspends Referee Istvan Kovac for Season

UEFA has decided to suspend referee Istvan Kovac for the rest of the Champions League season after his controversial officiating during the first leg of the quarter-final match between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, which ended in a 2-0 victory for Atletico on April 4, 2023. The match featured several contentious moments, including a missed red card and a questionable penalty call.

Kovac was involved in a disciplinary incident concerning Barcelona's defender Pau Cubarsi, who was initially shown a yellow card for a foul on Giuliano Simeone. Following a VAR review, Kovac changed the yellow card to a straight red card.

As a result of these officiating decisions, Kovac will not be assigned to any Champions League games for the remainder of the season, as reported on the radio show El Partidazo.