Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has criticised the decision of referee Massimo Busacca to send off Robin van Persie in the defeat to Barcelona tonight.
The Dutch striker was given his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card for having a shot at goal just one second after he was given offside.
Wenger and van Persie were both fuming afterwards, as they felt the decision changed the game.
Wenger said: “The sending-off cost us the game. [The referee must absolutely never have played football to do that. I told him what I thought about his decision face to face.
“I am convinced that if it had stayed 11 against 11 we could have won this tie tonight. It’s very hard to accept.”
Van Persie added: “My sending-off had a big influence, and in my opinion it was a total joke.
“How can I hear his whistle with 95,000 people jumping up – how can I hear that for God’s sake? Please explain that.
“One second from his whistle to my shot is just a joke.
“He has been bad all evening, whistling against us. I don’t know why he was here tonight. I tried to explain to him I didn’t hear the whistle but he just said: ‘second yellow card’ – unbelievable.
“We feel a little bit betrayed, when it was 1-1 it was all to play for.”
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