Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez gas put the blame for his side’s 1-1 draw with Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday on referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz.

Marcos Alonso fired the Catalans in front in the seventh minute but his effort was cancelled out by Joselu’s 73rd-minute penalty.

A total of 12 yellow cards were shown by Lahoz during the game as both sides shared 6 each.

Jordi Alba and Vinicius Souza were also sent off in a span of two minutes and hit out at the referee.

“Lahoz handed out pointless cards and the game got out of control.

“At the end of the game, I told Mateu that he had lost control. Do you think? He answered me…

“Jordi Alba told me that Mateu Lahoz didn’t even tell him that he had received a first yellow card.

“Referees should speak. It would humanize things.”