Barcelona president Joan Laporta confronts referees, asked to leave officials' room after Clasico

Barcelona president Joan Laporta had to be asked to leave the match officials' dressing room after demanding an explanation for certain decisions in his side's defeat to Real Madrid on Sunday.

Goals from Karim Benzema, Federico Valverde and Rodrygo earned Madrid a 3-1 Clasico win at the Santiago Bernabeu which took them three points clear of their rivals at the top of LaLiga.

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Ferran Torres had briefly given Barca hope, making it 2-1 in the 83rd minute, but a late penalty awarded for Eric Garcia's foul on Rodrygo allowed the Brazilian to seal the three points from the spot.

Barca were angered that the penalty decision was made after the referee was advised to check the pitchside monitor. The referee did not review an earlier penalty claim for a Dani Carvajal challenge on Robert Lewandowski at the other end.

«Once the game had ended and with the refereeing team back in the dressing room, Barca president Laporta came in repeatedly asking for an explanation on certain decisions made in the game,» the referee's report said.

«Laporta was asked to abandon the dressing room without any further incidents occurring.»

Barca coach Xavi Hernandez recently called for referees to give news conferences after games following what he perceived to be decisions which went against his team in the recent Champions League loss to Inter Milan.

However, Xavi did not comment on the refereeing at the Bernabeu as Barca lost for the first time in LaLiga this season to see their seven-game win streak brought to an end.

«Sometimes you find yourselves on a bad run, but luckily it's just three points,» Xavi said in a news conference. «We tried, we showed faith. It was a good chance to stay top of