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Manchester City 0-2 Barcelona: Manuel Pellegrini Lambasts 'Biased' Referee (VIDEO)

WATCH: Pellegrini Questions Referee's 'Impartiality' After City Loss (VIDEO)
The Huffington Post UK
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Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini will almost certainly face disciplinary action from Uefa after he accused Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson of lacking "impartiality" during the 2-0 defeat by Barcelona.

Pellegrini said Eriksson was "on Barcelona's side from beginning to end" and was trying to make up for a previous mistake against the Catalan side. The Chilean also questioned Uefa's decision to appoint an official from Sweden for the Champions League last 16 first leg match.

Uefa is likely to take a dim view of such comments. In 2011 it banned José Mourinho for five matches, reduced on appeal to three, for a similar rant when he was at Real Madrid.

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Pellegrini was furious with the referee on Tuesday night

Pellegrini's comments overshadowed a game which was decided by Lionel Messi's penalty, which led to Martin Demichelis' dismissal, and Dani Alves' last-minute strike.

The City manager claimed the foul by Demichelis was outside the box and that Eriksson - who has been selected by FIFA as one of the referees for this summer's World Cup in Brazil - should have given City a free-kick earlier in the move for a challenge on Jesus Navas by Sergio Busquets.

He said: "From the beginning I felt the referee was not impartial so he decided the game with a foul that he didn't whistle against and a penalty with Demichelis that was not a penalty, it was outside the box.

City 0-2 Barcelona
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Barcelona's midfielder Cesc Fabregas (L) celebrates with team-mates after Argentinian forward Lionel Messi's (Back Facing) scored from a penalty during the UEFA Champions League Last 16, first leg football match between Manchester City and Barcelona at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England on February 18, 2014. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(02 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Edin Dzeko of Manchester City competes with Andres Iniesta of Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(03 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Edin Dzeko of Manchester City competes with Andres Iniesta of Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(04 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Gerard Pique of Barcelona celebrates at the end of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Barcelona's goalkeeper Victor Valdes (3rd L) makes a save during the UEFA Champions League Last 16, first leg football match between Manchester City and Barcelona at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England on February 18, 2014. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(06 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Gerard Pique of Barcelona celebrates at the end of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Manchester City's Argentinian defender Martin Demichelis (R) fouls Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi to give away a penalty during a UEFA Champions League Last 16, first leg football match between Manchester City and Barcelona at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England on February 18, 2014. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(08 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Lionel Messi of Barcelona competes with Vincent Kompany of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (L) is filmed by a television cameraman as he leaves the field following his team's 2-0 victory during a UEFA Champions League Last 16, first leg football match between Manchester City and Barcelona at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England on February 18, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(10 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Lionel Messi of Barcelona is embraced by Pablo Zabaleta of Manchester City at the end of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(11 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Sergio Busquets of Barcelona competes with David Silva of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(12 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Sergio Busquets of Barcelona competes with David Silva of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(13 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Lionel Messi of Barcelona reacts following his team's victory at the end of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(14 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates scoring the opening goal from a penalty kick during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Barcelona's Brazilian defender Dani Alves celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during a UEFA Champions League Last 16, first leg football match between Manchester City and Barcelona at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England on February 18, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Barcelona's goalkeeper Victor Valdes (2nd L) makes a save under pressure from Manchester City's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko (3rd L) during a UEFA Champions League Last 16, first leg football match between Manchester City and Barcelona at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England on February 18, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(17 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Lionel Messi of Barcelona competes with Vincent Kompany of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Barcelona's midfielder Cesc Fabregas (L) celebrates with team-mates after Argentinian forward Lionel Messi's (2nd L) goal during the UEFA Champions League Last 16, first leg football match between Manchester City and Barcelona at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England on February 18, 2014. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(19 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Lionel Messi of Barcelona competes with Vincent Kompany of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Manchester City's Argentinian defender Martin Demichelis (R) fouls Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi to give Barcelona a penalty during a UEFA Champions League Last 16, first leg football match between Manchester City and Barcelona at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England on February 18, 2014. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(21 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Lionel Messi of Barcelona competes with Vincent Kompany of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(22 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Lionel Messi of Barcelona competes with Vincent Kompany of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(23 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Victor Valdes of Barcelona celebrates at the end of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Barcelona's Brazilian defender Dani Alves (L) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during a UEFA Champions League Last 16, first leg football match between Manchester City and Barcelona at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England on February 18, 2014. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Barcelona's Argentinian coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino (R) instructs his team during a UEFA Champions League Last 16, first leg football match between Manchester City and Barcelona at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England on February 18, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(26 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates scoring the opening goal from a penalty kick with his team-mates during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester City v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(27 of27)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Lionel Messi of Barcelona in action during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

"He did not have any control of the game. He was on the side of Barcelona from the beginning until the end.

"I think it was not a good idea to put a referee from Sweden in charge of such an important match, especially a referee who has made an important mistake against Barcelona in a previous match."

Pellegrini appeared to be referring to the 2012 Champions League quarter-final, when Eriksson was criticised by then-Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola for failing to award his side two penalties.

"This referee whistled the Barcelona-Milan and he made an important error against Barcelona. Today he rearranged it," added the City boss.

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