Barcelona says President John LaPorta of Real Madrid A last-gasp penalty against Rayo Vallecano at the weekend was “questionable” and accused Brahim Diaz of “throwing himself to the ground”.

Madrid were struggling against Rayo’s 10 men when referee Isidro Diaz de Mera Escuderos adjudged Nobel Mendy to have fouled Diaz in the 10th minute of added time and Kylian Mbappe made no mistake from the spot to give the hosts a 2-1 win.

There was still time for Rayo to go to nine men to join Pathe Sis in red with Pep Chavarria.

Madrid’s win saw them move back to within a point of La Liga leaders Barcawho were 3-1 winners at Elche the night before.

In tonight’s Copa del Rey quarter-final – Barcelona face Albacete – the team that knocked out Real Madrid and, speaking before the traditional lunch for the directors of the respective clubs, Laporta did not back down when asked to assess the penalty award.

He told reporters: “It was a game in which two players were sent off. The game was extended when they (Madrid) were drawing and on top of that, a penalty was awarded in the last minute, and the penalty was questionable.”

Diaz ‘threw himself to the ground’ – Barcelona president

After insisting he was speaking “as a football fan”, he added: “There are penalties I won’t whistle for because they aren’t. He (Diaz) touches the ball badly, the defender is off balance, raises his leg and doesn’t kick the striker who throws himself to the ground. I think it was exaggerated.”

Complaining about perceived bias in taking over in La Liga is nothing new with Madrid famous for pushing the club’s agenda through its in-house channel.

Laporta added: “I say it in a constructive sense. Sometimes it goes in our favor. But they are now favoring a club that has a television channel dedicated to explaining things to them that they think the referees are constantly hurting them. This (penalty award) is a reaction.”

Laporta thinks diving is common in Spanish football and wants to see how referees deal with offenders in other countries.

He said: “The other day I watched a Premier League game and after the dive they showed the player a card.”