Barcelona defender fumes over referee decision that led to Newcastle goal: 'I don't understand the rules' | Barca Universal

"If I have a cramp, I can enter the field standing or crawling. I don't understand the referee's decision. He sent me off again. Then I couldn't get to the area. I don't understand the referee's decision."

"I'm happy with the result. We got the draw in the end. We didn't play as well as we wanted to. We have to highlight what we learned in the Cup, the 4-0 win against Atletico. Today, we were smart."

During Barcelona's 1-1 draw with Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg, defender Ronald Araujo left the pitch due to cramps near the sideline. Referee Marco Guida prevented Araujo from immediately re-entering the field, instead instructing him to wait before restarting play. This delay in Barcelona's defensive structure allowed Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes to score the opening goal. After the match, Araujo expressed confusion about the referee's decision, questioning the rules regarding player re-entry. Despite his frustration with the controversial moment, Araujo considered the 1-1 draw a positive result given the match circumstances, noting Barcelona's defensive intelligence and the opportunity to compete in the second leg at home.

Read at Barca Universal