Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo sparked a storm of criticism on Monday for condemning the referee who awarded three penalties in Barcelona’s dramatic win over Real Madrid.
Ronaldo said after the 3-4 El Clasico defeat on Sunday that referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco made “unbelievable” decisions and that unnamed forces wanted Barcelona in the title race.
Barcelona players said the comments by the world player of the year were unjustified. Sport newspaper called Ronaldo a “cry baby”.
Mallenco gave Madrid defender Sergio Ramos the 19th red card of his career and Ronaldo, who scored from a controversial penalty himself, blasted the referee.
“The decisions that the referee took, for me it was unbelievable,” the Portuguese striker said.
“It makes you think that maybe they don’t want Madrid to win this league. Or they don’t want to completely rule out Barca, because if Barca had lost today they would have been dead.
“There were a lot of mistakes for just one game. A match between Real and Barca ought to have a high level of refereeing,” he said, “It makes me think that it is not just on the field that you win games, a little help from outside helps too. My penalty might have been just outside the area, but there are many things that went on. It is difficult when many people didn’t want us to win today.”
Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez said Ronaldo had “spoken too soon” and that the referee had been “fair”. Gerard Pique also called on Ronaldo to stop “complaining”.
Marca newspaper commentator Roberto Palomar said Ronaldo “ended up spewing stupidities in the press room. He can be forgiven for being who he is.”
“As usual when they lose, Real Madrid’s worst image returned,” said Barcelona newspaper Sport. Ronaldo’s criticism “showed once again that, when things don’t go the way he wants, the arrogant, ill-humoured Cristiano reappears.”
Barcelona players put out a storm of Twitter comments and triumphant photos after the match that the Spanish press hailed as one of the best Clasicos ever, particularly as it left Spanish title race wide open. Messi’s hat-trick made him the most prolific scorer in the history of matches between the arch rivals.
“Barcelona emerged the victors in all aspects of a frenetic night of football and goals, one of the best duels that the eternal rivalry between the two giants has produced,” wrote Marca.
