Atletico Madrid midfielder Mario Suarez said referee Milorad Mazic was "very bad" during Tuesday's goalless Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Real Madrid, while suggesting the Serbian official should not have been put in charge of such a high-profile fixture.
Taking charge of his 19th Champions League game, Mazic booked five players, three from Atletico and two from Madrid, during what was a physical derbi encounter.
However, neither Mazic nor his assistants took any action during the game's most controversial moments -- when Colchoneros centre-forward Mario Mandzukic was left bloodied after being caught in the face by Sergio Ramos' arm, or when Mandzukic appeared to be bitten on the arm and punched in the stomach by Blancos right-back Dani Carvajal.
Atletico midfielder Suarez, whose booking means he misses next Wednesday's return game at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, told Canal Plus after the final whistle that it was "not serious" for a referee from outside Europe's top leagues to be in charge of such a high profile European game.
"The referee is very bad, it is not right for a Serbian to do this type of game, Champions League quarterfinals. It is not serious," Suarez said. "I hope the return game it is better, with more normal decisions. The referee was not at the level of the game, they make mistakes, and we do too. It was an even game, we know each other very well, and it is open."
Later on Wednesday night Suarez went on twitter to clarify his remarks.
- Mario Suárez (@MarioSuarez4) April 14, 2015
"I apologise if anyone was offended by my comments after the game, that was not my intention," the Spain international tweeted. "I wanted to state that a referee from one of the big leagues should be designated to games of this size. Nothing else, we all make mistakes. Now back to work."
Atletico centre-back Miranda also made similar critical comments about Mazic's suitability for the game, when speaking in the Calderon mixed zone after the game.
"I am not going to talk about the referee, but I believe an official from a smaller league should not do these type of games," Miranda said in AS.
By contrast Madrid captain Iker Casillas told reporters at the stadium that he had no problems with the official's handling of the game.
"For me [Mazic's] performance was fine," Casillas said. "He could have been a bit stricter but I think he was fair to both sides. We competed with intensity. The referee was not the central figure in the game."
Ramos also defended the referee's display, while saying that the aerial clash which left Mandzukic needing lengthy medical attention had been accidental.
"I am not going to get into judgments, the referee is there for that," the centre-half said in the mixed zone. "They make mistakes, get things right, it is a move where I am going backwards and there is a clash, but in no moment was I going with the intention of doing damage."
Mazic, 42, is no stranger to controversy, or criticism after games. In his two games at last summer's World Cup, he first sent off Madrid defender Pepe in Portugal's group match against Germany, and was then heavily criticised by Iran coach Carlos Queiroz after the Asian side's 1-0 group defeat to Argentina.