Madrid — A group of Valencia supporters plans to take legal action against referee Pedro Tristante Oliva for awarding a last-minute penalty against their team in a recent Spanish league match against Real Madrid.
Some thirty fans have said they hold Tristante Oliva, together with the Spanish soccer federation, responsible for "the penalty mistake" and have demanded one euro ($1.69 Cdn) per person for causing them distress.
"We want the error to be publicly acknowledged and compensation paid as professional negligence has been committed," Andres Sanchis, the lawyer representing the supporters, was quoted by sports daily As on Wednesday.
The referee ruled defender Carlos Marchena had fouled Real Madrid striker Raul Gonzalez in injury time of last Sunday's game with Valencia leading 1-0 and about to rise above Madrid into top place in the standings. Luis Figo converted the penalty to thwart Valencia and prevent it from being the first team to defeat Madrid at its Santiago Bernabeu Stadium this season.
The referee's decision, which dominated headlines in the Spanish media on Monday, drew accusations from Valencia that Madrid was receiving favouritism from the country's soccer authorities.
