By Andrew Warshaw
November 28 – Wrong refereeing decisions not only change games but can wreck seasons and even lead to coaches being sacked. But one Atlético Madrid fan is so incensed over what happened in last season’s Champions League final that he is suing UEFA for damages.
In an extraordinary case, Jose Antonio Campón is suing for a total of €1,660 (€160 for the price of the ticket and €1500 for “moral damage” caused) as a result of the controversial early goal scored by Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos which the claimant says unfairly “altered the game, benefiting one of the teams”.
The goal was awarded by English referee Mark Clattenburg despite the defender appearing to be in an offside position. Ramos put Real Madrid ahead in 15th minute of the Champions League Final in Milan only for Atlético to equalise in the second half before losing to their arch-rivals on penalties.
The claim by the Atletico season ticket holder points the blame at UEFA for “not applying all means to safeguard the fulfillments of regulations and choose persons (Clattenburg) who did not fulfill their duty as would be demanded”.
Talking to the Spanish publication AS after filing the suit, Campón stressed the need for video technology, which is being studied by the game’s lawmakers but only covering specific areas, to be put into force across the entire spectrum of football including offsides.
“We demand the system to apply technical means that exist and are already used in other sports,” he said.
His lawyer Carlos Méndez added: “Standards can and should be improved. These technical means exist, but are not made available to football.”
“If you go to the cinema and there is no sound, they give you back your money. This is the same thing. There is a regulation and it has been breached. It is negligence and in your job, and when you are negligent you pay the consequences. That is why we address the claim to the employer (UEFA) and his employee (Clattenburg) as responsible. The ultimate goal is to change this situation and we think it is common sense. We claim a reasonable amount; it is not a question of becoming a millionaire with this.”
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