Gaya's fascinating explanation about the penalty awarded to Griezmann

Jose Luis Gaya has admitted he was left confused by the referee's explanation as to why Barcelona were given a penalty during their match with Valencia.

Towards the end of the first half, with the visitors leading 1-0 on the scoreline, Antoine Griezmann went down under the challenge of Gaya in the penalty area.

Referee Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez pointed to the spot and gave Gaya a red card but, upon review, the red card was downgraded to a yellow.

Despite his punishment being reduced after the referee had seen the incident on the pitchside monitor, the Valencia captain was still baffled the decision to award a penalty in the first place.

"I'm going to try and explain it," Gaya told Movistar afterwards. "Leo [Messi] is dribbling, he puts the ball inside me for Griezmann in an action in which maybe I'm badly positioned. But I touch the ball with my toe and I might've touched [Griezmann] with my foot, but I didn't push him.

"The referee didn't give the penalty because of contact between our feet but because he thinks I pushed him. That's what he told me. Afterwards, he goes to the monitor and says that there's no push but there is contact and that's why it's a yellow card, not a red.

"I don't know if it's been understood. The referee gave a penalty and sent me off because he thought I'd pushed him.

"I don't think what he said to me made much sense. He says it's a penalty because I pushed him and then, when he sees it again, he gives a penalty for contact between our feet and that's why it's not a red card."