Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis may have talked himself into trouble after insinuating in post-match comments that Barcelona tend to enjoy the support and favour of UEFA whose officials usually look the other way in incidents involving the Blaugranes but quick to punish their opponents for similar or less serious incidents.
The former Chelsea defender slammed the referee following the 2-1 loss against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, claiming the Catalans are protected and the official should have sent off Luis Suarez for his “aggressive act.”
The Rojiblanco were leading 1-0 when scorer Fernando Torres was sent off, a decision Luis strongly disagreed with. According to AS, Blaugrana technical director Robert Fernandez said the official “hurt both teams,” but Luis thought he must have been watching some other match:
“We started well until the unfair expulsion which determined a lot. We knew that could happen.
I don’t know what game Robert Fernandez watched. It’s a shame. I’ve made strong statements about Lionel Messi in La Liga but I think Barca are protected.
We’re punished with maximum rigour. It hurts. It causes an earthquake to eliminate Barca. That causes damage to UEFA.
I was sent off and crucified for just kicking Messi. What do they have to do to be sent off? Suarez’s was an aggressive act, a red card. I was crucified and rightly so, but this is punishable as well.”
Atleti manager Diego Simeone was reportedly “furious” with Luis in the aftermath of the defender’s outburst as he could now face disciplinary action which keeps him out of the second leg, per Ed Malyon in the Mirror.
Suarez scored both Barcelona goals during the second half, but he also made headlines for several controversial incidents.
First, he kicked out at Juanfran while the ball was no longer near the Atletico man.
After half-time, he was involved in a shoving match with Luis and appeared to raise his hands to the defender’s face.
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