Former refereeing chief Sanchez Arminio: Messi didn't challenge El Clasico referee LaLiga - Barcelona He accused Real Madrid of causing a stir

The former head of the Spanish FA's refereeing committee Victoriano Sanchez Arminio has denied accusations that Lionel Messi influenced the referee during May's Clasico clash.

Sergio Ramos and others accused the Barcelona star of putting pressure on match official Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez in the tunnel during the break of the 2-2 draw.

However, Sanchez Arminio has attempted to set the record straight during an interview with 'Que t'hi jugues' on Radio Barcelona.

"It is a lie that Messi confronted the referee during El Clasico, it is a lie, totally false," he said.

"A director at a club [Real Madrid] said it to a media outlet and this hurts because it isn't just attacking Messi, but also the refereeing establishment.

"Messi is a great player and a great person on the field and there is nobody who can speak badly about him."

He also believes the accusations are perhaps symptomatic of a wider ill feeling and mistreatment of referees in the Spanish game.

"I do think that referees in Spain aren't treated well and aren't valued for their quality because, for me, we have the best in the world as professionals and people," he added.

"FIFA and UEFA value them more highly and they are attacked only when they make mistakes, but when they are right nobody points it out.

"Nobody calls them to tell them that they've done well and that's unfair because they don't receive the love and support they should from teams."

In addition, he also touched on the pressure that referees are under and how clubs put them under it.

"The presidents of the smallest clubs are the ones who call the most to protest because it isn't the same as qualifying for the Champions League as it is to be relegated," Sanchez Arminio explained.

"To be relegated is a much more serious situation.

"[In terms of bigger clubs], I have only spoken to Florentino [Perez] once and [Josep Maria] Bartomeu once again.

"But some of the bigger clubs and their presidents have different means of communication that they can use.

"What some presidents think is made known through the media and other means and I think Barcelona and Madrid press the referees similarly.

"Decisions have neither harmed nor benefited either of them and the balance at the end of the season is zero, even, I think."

Sanchez Arminio had just stepped down as the boss of Spanish refereeing at the end of the 2017/18 season.