Norway's Ole Hermann Borgan, who posed for newspaper pictures in a Barcelona shirt earlier this week, has been replaced as linesman for the Champions League final.
Borgan had earlier admitted he was stupid to pose in the shirt the day before officiating in tonight's final between Spanish champions Barca and Arsenal at the Stade de France.
European soccer's governing body Uefa said it had replaced Borgan with his compatriot Arild Sundet, who will fly to Paris from Norway on Wednesday morning.
Borgan, 41, posed in Barca's red and blue striped shirt for Tuesday's edition of Norwegian newspaper Drammens Tidende.
"It was both thoughtless and stupid of me," he said afterwards on the paper's website. "I didn't think the situation and consequences through when I was asked to put on the shirt."
Before Uefa acted swiftly to replace Borgan, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Barca coach Frank Rijkaard had both played down the issue.
"I do not go into games looking at referees, I just have positive feelings about them," said Wenger. "They will always work hard and honestly. The fact that one wore a Barcelona shirt does not change my mind but it is surprising and could create some controversy."
Dutchman Rijkaard had joked that it could all have been solved if Borgan had donned an Arsenal shirt.
"It is interesting for the press but I'm not questioning the mentality of the referee and his assistants," he said.
The referee for the final, Terje Hauge of Norway, was criticised by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in February for sending off defender Asier del Horno during a 2-1 Champions League defeat against Barcelona.
He reiterated Borgan's regret at agreeing to allow the photograph to be taken.
"It was a stupid thing to do but I can assure that he did it in pure joy at being chosen to take part in this event," Hauge told a news conference in Paris on the eve of the final.
"It does not mean he is a Barca fan. It was just a stupid decision that he regrets a lot."
Hauge has refereed 95 international matches, including at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. He has not been selected for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
