Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Champions League: Atletico slam referee for not carding aggressive Suarez

April 06, 2016 12:07 IST

You realise the fear when Barcelona could get knocked out. It would hurt UEFA a lot. I don't know what they have to do for someone to send one of them off’

Barcelona's Lionel Messi is tackled by Atletico Madrid's Felipe Luis as Luis Suarez watches

IMAGE: Barcelona's Lionel Messi is tackled by Atletico Madrid's Felipe Luis as Luis Suarez watches. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

Barcelona's Luis Suarez was at his ruthless best and also again caught up in controversy as he scored twice to secure a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final, first leg on Tuesday.

Champions League PIX: Barca beat 10-man Atletico; Bayern edge Benfica

The Uruguayan kicked out at defender Juanfran in the first half in an off-the-ball incident and, after equalising just past the hour mark, got a yellow card for striking Filipe Luis in the face moments before heading the winner in the 74th minute.

An unhappy Filipe Luis said he thought Uruguay international Suarez was lucky to stay on the pitch.

“It was an aggression, a red card,” he told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.

Fernando Torres had given Atletico the lead after 25 minutes but was sent off in the 35th for two fouls in quick succession and Filipe Luis also criticised German referee Felix Brych’s decision to dismiss the forward.

“The sending off is totally unjust and changed the game. Barcelona are protected. When you play against them you realise that they are a very powerful club," he said.

"You realise the fear when Barcelona could get knocked out. It would hurt UEFA a lot. I don't know what they have to do for someone to send one of them off."

Suarez now has eight goals in the Champions League this season and 45 in all competitions.

He was also on target when Barca came from behind to beat Atletico in La Liga in January and has played in all seven matches against Diego Simeone’s side since joining the Nou Camp side in 2014, all of which the Catalans have won.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.