Barcelona pay price for angry reaction to Real draw

Barcelona president Joan Gaspart, vice-president Angel Fernandez, former coach Llorenc Serra Ferrer and striker Rivaldo have been fined for comments made after a 2-2 draw against Real Madrid in March.

Gaspart led a chorus of complaints from the Catalan club after a last-minute strike from Brazilian Rivaldo at the Bernabeu on March 3 was disallowed.

The referee had ruled that three Barca players running back were offside, despite the fact that the final touch came from Real Madrid's Ivan Helguera.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said the comments were a reproach to the referee and a "grave infraction" of their rules on conduct.

"We've had our wallets stolen," Gaspart said. For that the RFEF fined him 300,000 pesetas ($1,546).

Vice-president Fernandez described the result as "a hold-up," adding: "They've stolen the game from us."

Those comments cost him 250,000 pesetas ($1,288).

Serra Ferrer, who lost his job as first-team coach in April, was fined 100,000 pesetas ($515.2) for his contribution.

"Two points have been stolen from us," he said after the league match.

Rivaldo, meanwhile, will have to pay a fine of 150,000 pesetas ($772.8).

"It was scandalous. They stole the game from us," he said on his personal website.