Valencia’s Roberto Soldado believes Barcelona President Sandro Rosell influenced the referee prior to the teams’ Copa del Rey meeting.
Rosell this week claimed Barca have seen a number of big decisions go against them so far this season, and expressed his hope things would even themselves out during the remainder of the campaign.
His team duly enjoyed a massive stroke of luck 18 minutes into their 1-1 draw with Valencia in Wednesday’s semi-final first leg at Estadio Mestalla.
Referee Jose Luis Gonzalez failed to spot a clear handball outside the area from the visitors’ goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto.
Valencia striker Soldado said Pinto’s offence was obvious, and suggested the match official had elected to give Barca the benefit of the doubt because of Rosell’s comments.
“Here when our president speaks and complains about referees it is not taken into account,” the striker was quoted as saying by Marca.
“But it would not surprise me if the words of Rosell influenced the referee’s decision not to whistle for the hand ball.”
“It’s a very clear hand ball that has been able to affect the game. It was in front of the referee and he did not have the courage to whistle.”
The two clubs meet again in the second leg at Camp Nou on February February 8.
