Spanish club Málaga CF launched an astonishing attack on UEFA and the Scottish whistler following their controversial Champions League loss against Borussia Dortmund, who scored a late winning goal from an offside position in the third minute of stoppage time.
Málaga president Abdullah Bin Nasser Al Thani today accused UEFA of being "corrupt" and his club blasted Scots referee Craig Thomson following the Spanish side's controversial Champions League exit.
Al Thani launched a furious online outburst last night immediately following Malaga's 3-2 aggregate quarter-final defeat at the hands of Borussia Dortmund in the Westfalenstadion, which saw Dortmund score twice in stoppage time to claim a remarkable win.
Malaga, playing in the competition for the first time, were fuming with some of the decisions made by Craig Thomson and his team of officials. This included Felipe Santana's 93rd-minute winner which he appeared to score from an offside position.
Al Thani last night claimed on Twitter his side had been the victims of "racism", although it was not immediately clear at whom the accusation was directed, and urged UEFA to open an investigation. And the Qatari owner returned to Twitter this morning to continue to show his outrage. "Yes, we were targeted from the beginning of the season by corrupt UEFA and based on racism," he wrote on his personal account, ANAALThani.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini added: "It was extremely difficult to regain possession under these conditions. We're all extremely bitter at the outcome. There was no refereeing in the last seven minutes. The players were allowed to do whatever they wanted, which made it impossible for us to maintain our lead.
Defender Martin Demichelis said: "We're frustrated. There are ways of losing in this sport but when something happens like that it hurts much more. I'm convinced there there were two offsides."
In December, Malaga accused UEFA of unfair and unjust treatment after they were handed a one-season ban from European competition - to be imposed if the club qualify for the Champions League or Europa League during any of the next four seasons - due to outstanding debts.
Málaga's responsibles seem to have forgotten that their leading goal, the 1:2 scored in the 82nd minute, resulted from a clear offside position as well.
It is the second time that a club publicly beefs about Craig Thomson's refereeing after Schalke 04 and their representatives had also criticized his decision in the media in 2012.
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