Barcelona have received UEFA's first formal response to their complaint after the Atletico Madrid clash in the Champions League, with the governing body rejecting the protest submitted by the Catalan club.
According to a UEFA statement carried by reliable international outlets, the Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body declared the complaint inadmissible following Barcelona's objection to a refereeing decision in the first leg.
Barcelona had lodged the protest after a controversial incident inside the penalty area, arguing that both the on-field decision and the lack of VAR intervention affected the course and outcome of the match.
The response does not alter the result, but it does raise the temperature ahead of the next meeting, with Barca maintaining their position over the disputed incident.
The issue is still likely to feature in the build-up, although the main focus will now shift to the pitch as Barcelona try to overturn the deficit.