Referee Apologises To Barcelona Over Decision Which Could Have Cost Them La Liga

Blundering referee Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez has apologised to Barcelona and said he made the wrong decision after making a shocking decision which could have cost the Catalan giants the La Liga title.

Hernandez somehow failed to award a goal during a league game against Real Betis after Aleix Vidal's cross was deflected towards goal and the ball crossed by the line by around a metre, but the Spanish official refused to award the goal.

Unlike the Premier League, there is no goalline technology in La Liga and the decision infuriated former manager Luis Enrique and his Barcelona players.

Barcelona had to settle for a 1-1 draw after Luis Suarez scored a late goal to cancel out Alexander Alegria's strike for the home side.

Hernandez has now owned up to his mistake - although Barcelona fans will be even more angry as the victory back in January could have made all the difference in helping them overtake arch-rivals, Real Madrid, to win the La Liga title.

Hernandez, speaking on a TV show called 'Arbitration from Within', said: "When you make a decision and see the images you are very touched, because your professional prestige as a referee is at stake.

"It was a very clear decision but with three people in front of me, I could not see (what was happening).

"I understand the anger of a lot of people, but it was impossible for me to see it. It happened very quickly and my assistant could not see it and I could not help him.

"It leaves you with an unpleasant taste in the mouth and is a mistake that stays with you, because every time you have a challenge ahead of you, this will come to light."

It proved to be a nightmare day all round for Hernandez he also made a mistake in his official match report submitted after the game.

The referee managed to write that Betis had started the match with 10 players, and that one of them was the ex-Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida - who has never played for them and is actually at Osasuna!