Atlético Madrid Respond to Mark Clattenberg After Referee Admits to Wrong Call During 2016 Champions League Final

Atlético Madrid have responded to an admission from Mark Clattenberg that Real Madrid's first goal in the 2016 Champions League final should have been ruled out for offside.

Having been soundly defeated 4-1 by their city rivals in the 2014 final, Los Rojiblancos were hoping to exact revenge by winning their first ever Champions League title and deny their opponents a record 11th European crown.

Instead, they lost on penalties at San Siro in Milan. And four years on, English referee Clattenberg has revealed that Los Blancos' opening goal scored by Sergio Ramos should have been disallowed.

In his column for the Daily Mail, he wrote: "In that final Real Madrid went 1-0 up in the first half but the goal was slightly offside and we realised at half-time - it was a hard call and my assistant missed it."

The official then recounted his interaction with Real defender Pepe, who protested against his decision to award Los Colchoneros a penalty in the second-half.

He added: "I gave Atlético a penalty early in the second half when Pepe fouled Fernando Torres. Pepe was furious and said to me in perfect English: 'Never a penalty, Mark.' I said to him: 'Your first goal shouldn't have stood.' It shut him up."

Antoine Griezmann would miss the resulting spot-kick, with the ball coming off the crossbar to Los Blancos' relief. And despite Yannick Carrasco's equaliser, Los Indios would find themselves on the losing side in the eventual penalty shoot-out, with Cristiano Ronaldo capitalising on Juanfran's miss to win the European Cup for Real.

It didn't take Atléti long to respond - by screenshotting several articles, which was accompanied by a thinking emoji.

After refereeing the 2016 Euros final, Clattenberg stopped refereeing in Europe and most recently officiated in China.

His words will come as little consolation for Los Indios, who haven't reached the Champions League final since that defeat.