By DAN KARELL
Cristiano Ronaldo was not a happy camper after his side fell to Barcelona in the latest rendition of El Clasico.
The Portuguese winger, who scored a penalty kick goal in the second half of the 4-3 Real Madrid defeat, blamed the loss on referee Undiano Mallenco, claiming that La Liga referees always make calls against Real Madrid and that Mallenco was biased against them.
“He’s making a lot of mistakes,” Ronaldo told reporters following the match. “In a match like this you have to have a referee who’s good enough for a match of this size. The referee was nervous. A lot of mistakes. It has to be someone else. He isn’t good enough.
“Since I’ve been here, Real Madrid have never benefited from refereeing. Every year it’s the same. It makes me wonder whether it’s enough to play only on the pitch.”
The Spanish Football Federation’s referees committee will convene on Tuesday and decide whether to punish Ronaldo for his comments, as well as decide the appropriate action for Sergio Ramos, who received a straight red card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
Here are some more stories to kick off your week:
DANTE SIGNS NEW DEAL WITH BAYERN MUNICH
Just one week after Bayern Munich locked down Arjen Robben with a new contract, the German club did the same for their defensive rock in the lineup.
Brazilian defender Dante has signed a new deal with Bayern, the club announced, with the contract extending through June 2017. The centerback joined Bayern ahead of the 2012/2013 season and has gone on to make 83 appearances in all competitions since then.
“Joining Bayern was the best decision of my life,” Dante told Bayern’s website in a statement. “Everything here is good: the club, the team, the trophies we win, the atmosphere. Bayern is the right club for me and that’s why I’m delighted to be staying in Munich until at least 2017. I’m certain this team can enjoy a lot more fun and success in the years to come.”
BUNDESLIGA CLUBS REJECT GOAL-LINE TECHNOLOGY
Goal-line technology isn’t coming to the Bundesliga any time soon.
A vote to introduce goal-line technology to the top two tiers of German soccer failed to gain a two-thirds majority at a meeting of officials of all 36 Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga clubs on Monday morning.
German league (DFL) chairman Reinhard Reuball told the AP that half of the 18 Bundesliga teams voted in favor of goal-line technology, and that referees were in favor of the vote.
Earlier this season, Bayer Leverkusen’s Stefan Kiessling scored what’s known as the “ghost goal” in a match against Hoffenheim, when his header went through a hole in the side-netting and across the line.
Perhaps ironically, FIFA will be using German technology from the company Goal Control for goal-line technology at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
QUICK KICKS
Eric Abidal walked out on his team and didn’t attend AS Monaco’s match against Lille after being left off the gameday squad. (REPORT)
Bayern Munich have been fined €10,000 and will play their home match against Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League with a partial closure after a discriminatory banner was shown vs. Arsenal. (REPORT)
Fiorentina forward Mario Gomez is set to undergo tests on a sprained knee, just weeks after returning from a serious knee injury. (REPORT)
The Parc des Princes in Paris will undergo a face-lift to take it’s capacity up to 47,000 and VIP seats to 4,500 in time for Euro 2016. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? Do you agree with Ronaldo’s comments? Think the referee’s performance was poor? What do you think of Dante’s extension?
Share your thoughts below.