Sent off in the 56th minute of yesterday’s Champions League game against Barcelona, striker Robin van Persie described the referee’s decision as a joke after the game.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Dutchman explained that there was no way he could hear the whistle with all the noise around the stadium as he added that he cannot understand why the referee’s decision was to show him a second yellow card and hence red. The striker continued by saying that Massimo Busacca was “bad all evening” and that he was against Arsenal.

The Gunners suffered a 3-1 defeat at the Camp Nou and crashed out of the Champions League only weeks after failing to win the League Cup against Birmingham and up next for Arsenal is a very difficult trip to Old Trafford in the F.A. Cup.

After the game, van Persie said:

It had a big influence. I think it was a total joke. How can I hear his whistle with 95,000 people jumping up? How can I hear it? Please explain that?

I can’t understand the view from the ref. One second from his whistle to my shot is a joke. He has been bad all evening. He was against us. I don’t know why he was here tonight, it’s a joke.

We feel betrayed, almost. We tried really hard. When it was 1-1 it was all to play for. But, in my opinion, the ref killed the game.