Former referee admits to error that value Barcelona the La Liga title in 2014

Former referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz has admitted that his controversial choice within the last match of the 2013-14 La Liga season value Barcelona the title.

The Valencian official incorrectly dominated out a aim by Lionel Messi in a title-deciding contest towards Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou, a mistake he now concedes was unsuitable.

What occurred?

In Could 2014, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid confronted off in a title-deciding match at a packed Camp Nou. The Blaugrana, second within the desk with 86 factors, wanted a win to develop into champions, whereas Atleti, sitting on the high on 89 factors, solely required a draw.

Alexis Sanchez gave Barcelona the lead, however Diego Godin’s equaliser secured a 1-1 draw and handed the title to Los Rojiblancos.

Nevertheless, the sport’s most decisive second got here within the sixty fourth minute when Messi discovered the again of the online to make it 2-1 for Barcelona, just for it to be dominated out for offside.

Messi’s aim ought to have stood. (Picture by Alex Livesey/Getty Photos)

The move to Messi had come from Dani Alves had come off a deflection from Atletico’s Juanfran, however Mateu Lahoz and his assistant believed it was from Cesc Fabregas, and flagged it for offside.

Lahoz admits to mistake

Now, over a decade later, Lahoz, now a pundit for Movistar and COPE, admitted to his error.

“I used to be unsuitable. Wanting again, we now know the ball got here off Juanfran,” he acknowledged, as quoted by SPORT.

“Barcelona and Atletico arrived on the last match degree on nearly all the things, and that one choice modified all the things.”

“From my place, I couldn’t inform,” Lahoz admitted. “I might have guess my twenty fingers – arms and ft – that Cesc touched the ball. The assistant took accountability, however in the end, it was my choice.”

Barcelona by no means recovered from that second, and Atletico held on for the draw and lifted their first league title in 18 years.

Lahoz’s admission now confirms what many followers had lengthy suspected: one unsuitable name value Barcelona a championship.