The Controversial Goal Disallowed for Inter Against Barcelona in the Champions League

In one of the most controversial moments of the night in the UEFA Champions League, Inter Milan had a crucial goal by Henrikh Mkhitaryan ruled out for a razor-thin offside against Barcelona. The incident took place in the second half of the semi-final first leg and immediately sparked outrage on and off the pitch.

The Armenian midfielder had found the net with what would have been Inter’s fourth goal of the evening, giving them a 4-3 lead away at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. However, after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed due to a marginal offside — Mkhitaryan's toe was just ahead of the last defender. It was a technically correct call, but one that ignited fierce debate.

Inter players were visibly frustrated by the decision. Several surrounded the referee, protesting the call and questioning the use of such extreme precision. In the stands, away supporters voiced their displeasure, while social media exploded with criticism over what many considered an overly strict interpretation.

Inter’s coaching staff refrained from making direct accusations but made their disappointment known. The disallowed goal not only robbed them of a precious away victory but also the upper hand heading into the second leg against a top-class opponent.

From that moment on, Inter seemed to lose momentum. Barcelona held their ground defensively and the final result left the tie wide open heading into the return fixture in Italy.

VAR takes centre stage again in the Champions League

Once more, VAR became the main talking point. Mkhitaryan’s disallowed goal for a marginal offside denied Inter a massive away win and left fans and pundits alike debating the limits of the technology.