23/11/2023–|Last updated: 11/23/202310:17 PM (Mecca time)
Referee Alejandro Hernandez admitted that he was wrong for not awarding Barcelona’s “famous ghost goal” against Real Betis in the 2016-2017 season, which caused the Blaugrana to fail to win the title in favor of its rival Real Madrid, which led by 3 points.
Barcelona tied with Betis in January 2017, and Luis Suarez scored the equalizer in the 90th minute.
That could have been the winner for Suarez, after he appeared to score with the ball over the goal line, but no goal was awarded.
Speaking to Radio Cadena Copé on Wednesday evening, Hernandez admitted his mistake and stressed that if Barcelona had been influencing the referees through its payments to Jose Maria Enriquez Negrera, this would have been a strange decision.
Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez on Luis Suarez’s infamous ghost goal against Real Betis in 2017:
“I’m on the edge of the box, and from my position, seeing if the ball goes in or not… It’s a blatant mistake.”
(Cadena Cope) #FC Barcelona pic.twitter.com/MRLy5svIzS
— Football Spain (@footballespana_) November 23, 2023
Hernandez added, “I’m on the edge of the penalty area, and from my position, I see whether the ball is going in or not. It’s a huge mistake, and that was during Negrera’s tenure. There was even a possible penalty kick against Neymar and nothing was awarded. Two weeks ago, in a match.” “Sevilla and Real Madrid, where I awarded a penalty kick to Real Madrid, and my assistant told me ‘nothing, nothing, nothing’, all during Negrera’s tenure. All arguments fall apart.”
🗣️ Hernández Hernández, in @partidazocopeabout the Negreira Case
❌ “It is the most damaging thing that has happened to arbitration in its entire history”
📻 #PartidazoCOPE pic.twitter.com/pHN5pnBfcN
— El Partidazo de COPE (@partidazocope) November 22, 2023
Barcelona and some of its senior officials were accused on March 10 by the Spanish authorities of “corruption,” “breach of trust,” and “false commercial records,” in the case of suspicious financial payments to Jose Maria Enriques Negrera, a former official in Spanish arbitration.
The mere talk of appointing Alejandro Hernandez as referee for El Clásico immediately caused Barcelona and Real Madrid fans to revolt, rejecting this choice, due to the referee’s controversial history.
Hernandez says those questioning whether Barcelona have been favoured by referees make no sense.https://t.co/Qe76FZ11Wu#FC Barcelona #CasoNegreira
— Football Spain (@footballespana_) November 23, 2023
In recent years, the referee’s performance has come under the microscope, after he previously officiated 3 matches in El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, none of which were devoid of controversial decisions.
The most famous incident condemning the referee was in the 2017 Clasico at the Santiago Bernabéu, when Barça won 3-2 in the 92nd minute with Messi’s famous goal, and then he raised his shirt in front of the royal stands.
Official Statement: Alejandro Hernández Hernández to referee El Clásico. It’s a disaster. pic.twitter.com/ZM6JM9KzW9
— Madridista-Swedeninho (@MadridstaLoco) December 9, 2019
On this night, Messi was injured and fell to the ground bleeding from his mouth after an elbow strike from Marcelo, and the Brazilian defender did not even receive a yellow card.
In the same El Clasico, the newspaper claimed that Hernandez overlooked giving Casemiro a second warning after running over Messi.
But Real fans objected to Hernandez’s performance in the same match, and accused the referee of not awarding a penalty kick to Cristiano Ronaldo after being obstructed by Samuel Umtiti.
Real Madrid had previously filed a series of complaints against referee Hernandez, amounting to 10 controversial cases.
