For Luis Suárez, torchbearer of fair play within modern football, there was poetic justice on Sunday afternoon as Neymar was refused a blatant penalty, only for a Real Betis defender to then knock the ball into his own net.
A defender made an attempt to clear it off the line but could not react fast enough, the ball crossing the line by what Suarez claimed to be a full metre. Think Lampard in the 2010 World Cup. Just like that goal, however, the referee and his staff failed to notice that it was a goal, and Suarez was left running around the pitch looking for somebody to bite in sanctimonious fury.
This was no small decision; Barcelona went on to drop two points and with that possibly surrendered all hopes of winning La Liga. Real Madrid are now four points ahead with a game in hand against lowly Valencia and Barcelona still need to play the leaders in the capital – the trophy will surely have the privilege of being pictured next to a scantily clad Cristiano Ronaldo come May.
Back in England last week, there was a similar incident when Liverpool hosted Southampton in the EFL Cup. Emre Can almost silenced a body of critics that grows with every confused puppy performance, firing a shot towards goal that Fraser Forster failed to save. The keeper recovered but it looked for all the world as though the ball had crossed the line, only for referee Martin Atkinson to look at his trusty watch and inform the players that technology had informed him otherwise. Nobody kicked up a fuss: It was a fact.
And so it is time to say something unnervingly strange: The LFP need to follow the good example set by the FA. Yes, the FA. The same federation that normally seems desperate for everything to be as much of a cock-up as possible, from the John Terry racism case to letting Mike Dean anywhere near a football field when the man clearly needs to be on stage. We’re thinking Dean and Tobias Funke in the Blue Man Group together.
This is a classic example of the adage “Even a broken clock tells the right time twice a day”, and Spanish football needs to take note.
10 players you forgot ever played for Barcelona
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Gazika Mendieta
Mendieta was considered one of the best midfielders in Europe when he helped Valencia reach back-to-back Champions League finals, and went on to enjoy a stint at Barcelona. He clearly decided he was sick of playing midweek fixtures, went to Middlesbrough for an early retirement and somehow won them the League Cup. If they haven't built a statue out of gravy for him at the Riverside, he should feel personally offended. Image Source: Goal
Martin Caceres
Probably best known to you and your mates through FIFA, when you take him off the bench and into the reserves, so you can fit yet another Juventus attacker into your squad. Had a spell at Barcelona back in '08, but wasn't technically gifted enough for Guardiola so he Joe Harted him and loaned him out. Image Source: Zimbio
Edgar Davids
Davids actually took some time out of playing for Italy's biggest clubs for a half a season to join some minnows called Barcelona, where he's credited with revitalising Rijkaard's underachieving team. Image Source: partidoapartidocom
Juan Roman Riquelme
Before Messi was the next Maradona, Riquelme was. Despite that, his time at Barcelona was short and forgettable, as Louis van Gaal had no idea how to get the best out of him and he fell victim to not being as good as Rivaldo. Image Source: Futbol Sapiens
Geovanni
The player on this list most likely to make you think, what the hell?! A big money signing for Barcelona back in 2001, but his career went rapidly downhill and he ended up at Hull in 2008. To be fair, when you remember that goal against Arsenal, you can see what Barca hoped they were paying for. Image Source: Flipboard
Ricardo Quaresma
More famous for having a teardrop tattoo than being a good player, Quaresema has disappointed fans and teammates across the continent for years now. Just like you forgot he played for Inter Milan and Chelsea, you also forgot he played for Barcelona back in 2003, where he did nothing of note before being sold to Porto in a swap with Deco. Image Source: Goal
Christophe Dugarry
LvG signed the attack-minded Frenchman in '97 and tried to turn him into a defensive-midfielder, which for some reason didn't work out for either party. If Dugarry still has any nightmares over his time at Barcelona, I'm sure cuddling his World Cup and Euro gold medals will help him get back to sleep. Image Source: 101 Great Goals
Simao
One of Benfica's best ever players, it's a wonder that none of Europe's elite came calling for the little Portuguese man. Perhaps they remembered his disastrous couple of years at Barcelona, but nobody else does. Image Source: turnstyle
Jari Litmanen
Before Zlatan, Litmanen was Scandinavia's most famous export. Another van Gaal signing, Jari never managed to hit the same heights for Barcelona as he did for Ajax, despite Louis' genius idea of signing half of his teammates to help him out. Is there a reason so many of these forgotten spells are linked to Louis?! Image Source: These Football Times
Winston Bogarde
Ah, Winston Bogarde. A tall and strong central defender in his prime, as his career progressed he masterfully transitioned into a money-grabbing benchwarmer. He started the positional change at Barcelona, but he was at his peak playing in this position when at Chelsea, which understandably overshadows his time at the Camp Nou. Image Source: Squawka
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