Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini risks a UEFA sanction after launching a scathing attack on the match referee after his side's 0-2 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League
City's manager Manuel Pellegrini
Manchester: Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini risks a UEFA sanction after launching a scathing attack on the match referee after his side's 0-2 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League.
City's manager Manuel Pellegrini
In a wide-ranging attack, Pellegrini accused match official Jonas Eriksson of making two mistakes over the penalty decision which gave Barcelona a 1-0 lead and even questioned why a Swedish official had been given control of the game.
ADVERTISEMENT
Eriksson sent off City defender Martin Demichelis for bringing down Messi in the incident that yielded the 54th-minute penalty and Pellegrini said: "I think that the referee decided the game.
Before the penalty there was the foul on (Jesus) Navas, when he (Eriksson) was three metres from the player, so he saw it without any problem.
"From the beginning I felt that the referee was not impartial to both teams. The penalty on Martin Demichelis was not a penalty — it was outside the box."
Asked why he had spoken to Eriksson at the final whistle, Pellegrini replied: "Just to tell him that he had decided the game. He must be very happy, because he decided the game."
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
