Football fans slated referee Jose Sanchez after his questionable decision-making helped Barcelona earn a first-half penalty at El Madrigal on Sunday.
Jose Sanchez awarded Barcelona a dubious penalty 41 minutes into the first half after Villarreal keeper Sergio Asenjo was adjudged to have brought down Neymar in the penalty box. The replays however, clearly showed the Spaniard getting to the ball before coming in contact with Neymar.
Neymar’s penalty put Barcelona 2-0 up 20 minutes after Ivan Rakitic gave them the lead. However, two quick-fire goals from Villarreal early in the second half pegged the Catalans back. The Yellow Submarine survived a late onslaught from the Catalans to earn a well-deserved point at El Madrigal.
Here is how twitter reacted to the performance of referee Jose Sanchez.
Villarreal fans: “hands up, this is a robbery!”. More than a robbery, it’s a joke: the ref has got pretty much every decision wrong.
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) March 20, 2016
Premier League refs are so much better than people realise. La Liga’s officiating is utterly terrible https://t.co/3Q03LpJ3Z9
— Ed Malyon (@eaamalyon) March 20, 2016
Villarreal keeper Asenjo makes great save at Neymar’s feet. Our laughably bad referee, possibly worst I’ve ever seen, decides it’s a penalty
— Andy West (@andywest01) March 20, 2016
Neymar scores the pen. 2-0. Refereeing a farce
— Ed Malyon (@eaamalyon) March 20, 2016
this ref is a DISASTER. that was an incredible save from Asenjo!!
— MOLOCH THE LOVELESS (@MochineGun) March 20, 2016
Ah actually they do, Neymar with a panenka. Villarreal rightly feeling robbed here
— Kieran Canning (@KieranCanning) March 20, 2016
Embarrassing, never a penalty.
— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) March 20, 2016
Barcelona’s starting XI includes the referee too. #VillarrealFCB
— Abhishek (@Abhishxk) March 20, 2016
Don’t blame fans for booing the referee..horrible decisions #villarrealbarcelona #Villarreal #Barcelona
— Tuomas Virtanen (@Zkal) March 20, 2016
Meanwhile, the referee just awarded Barcelona an outrageously bewildering penalty
— Portuguese~Maniche (@Maniche4) March 20, 2016
Referee in Villarreal-Barcelona doing his best to ruin the game. #inthebag #LaLiga
— Philip Gatt (@philgatt) March 20, 2016
@SuperSportTV Am watching the game Barcelona/Viillarreal. The referee is pathetic. Cant rule out match fixing
— Bernard Madzivanyika (@BMadzivanyika1) March 20, 2016