The Archbishop of Barcelona has intervened in the controversy surrounding Ronaldinho's red card against Real Zaragoza in the King's Cup by saying the Brazilian was unjustly punished.
"The sending off of Ronaldinho was far too rigorous, and it was one of the things that influenced Barca's elimination from the Cup," Archbishop Lluis Martinez-Sistach said today.
"The game lasts 90 minutes and the team had to play with a man down. That is possible sometimes, but you have to remember that Ronaldinho is a very influential player."
Ronaldinho was dismissed late in the first half of Wednesday's quarter-final when he collided with Zaragoza midfielder Cani, although the challenge did not appear worthy of a straight red card.
Barcelona, who lost last week's first leg 4-2, went on to win the game 2-1 but it was not enough to earn them a place in the semi-finals and they waved goodbye to their first chance of a trophy this season.
Zaragoza now face Real Madrid, the side they beat to win the 2004 final, in the last four.