Roberto Soldado (Valencia CF striker) accused Sandro Rossell (FC Barcelona president) of making comments that may have influenced a referee. The accusations were made after the match between Barca and Valencia CF on February 1, 2012.

The accusations were reported in Marca and published in Goal. They were based on a comment made by Rossell concerning the referees in La Liga matches.

Rossell accused the referees of being biased against La Blaugrana and hoped for a resolution within the season. Soldado pointed out that Jose Manuel Pinto (Barca goalkeeper) touched the ball outside of the goal area.

Soldado stated that the referee did not punish the infraction out of fear for Rossell's comments. In a separate news account, Goal reported that Pep Guardiola (Barca coach) admitted that Pinto "receiving a red card" would have changed the course of the game.

What can be said about what transpired in this dispute? It is doubtful that the comments of a club president can influence the decision of a referee.

UEFA, FIFA and La Liga would probably punish FC Barcelona if it was discovered that a president or player influenced a decision by a referee. I saw the match on TV and Pinto should have received a red card for his hand ball outside of the goal area.

I don't know why the referee did not see the hand ball. It remains to be seen what will transpire in the next match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad this Saturday.