Former LaLiga referee, Mateu Lahoz, has admitted to committing an error that forced Barcelona to lose out on the 2013-14 title.
Lahoz was appointed for the match between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid during which he cancelled Lionel Messi’s goal adjudged offside.
At that period, there was no video assistant referees and the centre referee’s decision was final.
The ball that led to the goal had come to Messi from Juanfran Torres, rather than Cesc Fabregas, forcing Lahoz to whistle for offside.
Years after, the referee has admitted he made a mistake, explaining that Messi’s goal should have stood, as it was not offside, according to BarcaBlaugranes.
He said, “I made a mistake. There was a play that we were able to see later that Juanfran didn’t touch, but from my position, it was impossible to tell if Cesc touched it.
“I would have bet my 20 fingers that Cesc had touched that ball. That play was about team synergy and I’m the only one responsible.”
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid came into that final game of the campaign occupying the top two spots of the league table but separated by three points.