Atletico Madrid React To Mark Clattenburg Admitting Real Madrid's Goal In Champions League Final Was Offside

Atletico Madrid have responded after Mark Clattenburg admitted that Real Madrid's opening goal in the 2016 Champions League final was offside.

Two years after being beaten 4-1 in extra time in Lisbon, Atleti were defeated by their city rivals on penalties in cruel fashion at the San Siro.

But Real's first goal, scored by captain Sergio Ramos, should have actually been disallowed according to Clattenburg, who officiated his first ever Champions League final in Milan.

"In that final Real Madrid went 1-0 up in the first half but the goal was slightly offside and we realised at half-time, Clattenburg wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.

"It was a hard call and my assistant missed it."

In the second half Atletico were given a penalty that Griezmann hit against the crossbar, before Yannick Carrasco added a late equaliser to take the match to extra time.

The game went all the way to penalties, where Los Blancos emerged victorious when Cristiano Ronaldo smashed in the winning penalty for an 11th European Cup triumph.

Image: PA

But having seen what Clattenburg had to say, the loss still cuts deep for Atleti - who screenshotted several articles of the English referee's quotes and added a thinking emoji in for good measure.

Clattenburg told Real Madrid defender Pepe that the opening goal was offside when he challenged his decision to award a penalty for the Portuguese man bringing down Fernando Torres shortly after the interval.

"I gave Atletico a penalty early in the second half when Pepe fouled Fernando Torres," Clattenburg recalled.

"Pepe was furious and said to me in perfect English: 'Never a penalty, Mark.'

"I said to him: 'Your first goal shouldn't have stood.' It shut him up."

Pepe is known for his constant theatrics on the pitch and Clattenburg called him out for his play-acting on two occasions during the game.

Image: PA

"Another referee might have fallen for it but I'd done my homework and, while you should try not to pre-judge, I knew exactly what his mentality was like and I needed that knowledge to handle him."

Topics: Football News, Football, Atletico, Atletico Madrid, Mark Clattenburg, Champions League, Real Madrid

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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