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Robin Van Persie's Red Card Against Barcelona Is Still One Of The Worst Decisions

Robin Van Persie's Red Card Against Barcelona Is Still One Of The Worst Decisions

One of the worst decisions in recent history...

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Robin van Persie's red card against Barcelona in 2011 is easily the worst refereeing decision of the decade in recent history.

With Van Persie already on a booking, he was shown a second yellow for what the referee deemed to be him 'kicking the ball' away when played through on goal.

The former Feyenoord striker was flagged offside in the 55th minute but didn't hear the whistle and so tried his luck with his right foot.

Incredibly, there was just one second between the ref's whistle being blown and Van Persie kicking the ball and yet Massimo Busacca went ahead and sent him off.

Arsenal had not long just equalised to make it 1-1 in the round of 16 second leg after winning the first leg 2-1 at the Emirates, and subsequently lost 3-1.

Arsene Wenger, who waited for the referee after the game to tell him what he thought of him, felt that Arsenal would have gone on to win the game had his star striker not been dismissed and added he felt "sorry".

Van Persie, meanwhile, completely and utterly ripped into the referee for "killing the game".

Image: PA
Image: PA

"It had a big influence," he told Geoff Shreeves in a post-match interview on Sky Sports.

"I think it was a total joke. How can I hear his whistle with 95,000 people jumping up? How can I hear it? Please explain that?

"I can't understand the view from the ref. One second from his whistle to my shot is a joke. He has been bad all evening. He was against us. I don't know why he was here tonight, it's a joke.

"We feel betrayed, almost. We tried really hard. When it was 1-1 it was all to play for. But, in my opinion, the ref killed the game."

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Topics: Football News, FC Barcelona, Football, Robin van Persie, Netherlands, Arsenal, Champions League