Leeds 'robbed' by hand of Raul

Leeds United manager David O'Leary let blundering referee Ryszard Wojcik off the hook over the extraordinary Real Madrid goal that sparked a 3-2 Champions League defeat at the Bernabeu Stadium.

Raul equalised with a goal more reminiscent of a basketball player's slam dunk and was reminiscent of Maradona's 'hand of God' effort against England in the 1986 World Cup.

Luis Figo scored and Raul headed the decisive third as the Spanish champions won a sparkling match.

But O'Leary said: 'The referee came in to see us and apologised to every player about the first goal. He said he didn't see it, and if he didn't see it he couldn't give it. That takes a big man and a brave man to come in and admit that. We didn't deserve to lose this game but you can't legislate for two freak goals.'

After Raul escaped, £38million world-record signing Figo was able to beat Leeds goalkeeper Nigel Martyn just before half-time and put Real ahead when his shot diverted off the mound the keeper had fashioned for goal kicks.

It was the Raul goal that cancelled out Alan Smith's sixth-minute opener that left Leeds furious, though.

Martyn protested in vain to the linesman while team-mates chased the referee back to the centre circle, and the bemused officials were confronted once more at half-time by Martyn, Olivier Dacourt and skipper Lucas Radebe, who was later carried off with a worrying knee injury.

Had Leeds needed the points to qualify for the last eight, O'Leary's mood might have been less magnanimous in defeat.