Newcastle United vs Barcelona referee escaped punishment for alleged kick out at player this season

VIGO, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 26: Referee, Marco Guida looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Real Club Celta and PAOK FC at Estadio Abanca Balaidos on February 26, 2026 in Vigo, Spain. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images) — Referee, Marco Guida (Image credit: Getty Images)

Newcastle welcome Barcelona to St. James' Park for the second time this season, with the club's fans hoping the team fare better than Los Cules' last visit to the north east.

Anthony Gordon's late consolation gave Newcastle fans hope of salvaging a point during the league phase earlier in the campaign, but Marcus Rashford's brace was enough to hand the LaLiga side the spoils back in September.

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Newcastle vs Barcelona referee 'not guilty' of kicking out at player

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 02: Referee Marco Guida disputes with Alexis Saelemaekers of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) — Referee Marco Guida disputes with Alexis Saelemaekers of AC Milan (Image credit: Getty Images)

Barcelona, meanwhile, finished in the top eight and advanced automatically to the Round of 16 and have the benefit of a home fixture in the second leg of this particular tie.

As Tyneside gears up for Newcastle's first proper Champions League knockout fixture, match officials for the game have been announced with Italian referee Marco Guida the man in the middle for this one.

Newcastle and Barcelona are preparing to meet again in the last 16 of the Champions League (Image credit: Getty Images)

Guida has officiated in Italy's top flight, Serie A, since 2010 and has been FIFA-listed since 2014, permitting him to take charge of international matches.

In November 2025, the Neapolitan official was involved in a controversial altercation with AC Milan's Alexis Saelemaekers during a game against Roma. Having awarded a penalty to Roma, Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan pulled off a save which elicited an antagonistic celebration by Saelemaekers.

The Belgian celebrated passionately in Guida's direction and the official took steps towards the Belgian, bringing the pair close together. As Saelamaekers began to walk away, Guida appeared to trip the Milan winger by extending his right leg, in what was deemed by television pundits as a deliberate kick out at the player.

The Italian Referees Association (AIA) subsequently decided not to take disciplinary action against him.

Guida has officiated 23 matches this season, including one in the United Arab Emirates, showing 76 yellow cards, one red and awarding nine penalties.

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Joe joined FourFourTwo as senior digital writer in July 2025 after five years covering Leeds United in the Championship and Premier League. Joe's 'Mastermind' specialist subject is 2000s-era Newcastle United having had a season ticket at St. James' Park for 10 years before relocating to Leeds and later London. Joe takes a keen interest in youth football, covering PL2, U21 Euros, as well as U20 and U17 World Cups in the past, in addition to hosting the industry-leading football recruitment-focused SCOUTED podcast. He is also one of the lucky few to have 'hit top bins' as a contestant on Soccer AM. It wasn't a shin-roller.

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