Atletico Madrid's Mario Suarez apologises after verbal attack on Serbian referee
Wednesday 15 April 2015 13:05, UK
Atletico Madrid midfielder Mario Suarez has issued an apology after he launched a scathing attack on the Serbian referee who officiated their Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid.
The 28-year-old defensive midfielder was booked in the 85th-minute for a cynical challenge on Real substitute Isco, a booking which rules him out of next week’s return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
UEFA official Milorad Mazic did well to keep the feisty and, at times, volatile derby under control as just five players made their way into the referee’s book.
But Suarez was not impressed with the referee’s display and instead questioned his suitability for the high-profile game at the Vicente Calderon.
"The referee was very bad,” he said. “You can't have a Serbian in charge of a Champions League quarter-final, that isn't taking it seriously enough.
"I hope that in the second leg the referee will be better with more fluid and normal decisions.
"The referee wasn't up to it, but they made mistakes as we do."
The Spaniard quickly retracted his statement and took to Twitter to backtrack on his comments made in the immediate aftermath of the goalless draw.
"I'd like to apologise if anyone was offended by my words after the match, that wasn't my intention," Suarez added.
"I wanted to say that in a match of this magnitude you should designate a referee from a major league."
Suarez’s Brazilian teammate Miranda also questioned the referee’s suitability for such a big game, claiming officials should not come from "a minor league".
Watch Champions League quarter-final second-leg between Real Madrid and Ateltico Madrid live next Wednesday. Coverage from the Santiago Bernabeu starts at 7pm, Sky Sports 5 HD.
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