Ramos: Messi pressured El Clasico referee at half-time

Sergio Ramos claimed after Sunday's El Clasico that Lionel Messi successfully put pressure on the match official during half-time.

Without providing details, the Real Madrid defender said the Barcelona star's conversation with referee Hernandez Hernandez influenced how the second half played out in the 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou.

"Messi put a little bit of pressure (on Hernandez) in the tunnel," Ramos told reporters, as translated by Sam Marsden of ESPN FC. "I don't know if there were cameras, I don't know if in the second half (he) would have done things differently (without that pressure)."

In the first half, Hernandez had been the target of whistles and jeers from the Blaugrana faithful following his decision to reduce Barcelona to 10 men with a straight red card shown to Sergi Roberto. He attracted further criticism when Gareth Bale's reckless challenge on Samuel Umtiti went unpunished.

The conclusion of the first half - which ended with the sides tied 1-1 - saw Barcelona players surround Hernandez and his officiating staff in a dispute that Ramos claimed continued down the hall, with Messi in the centre of it.

The second half then featured the teams trading goals once again, as Messi's strike was cancelled out by Bale's powerful equaliser.

Minutes before Messi put Barcelona ahead, Ramos had an animated conversation with Hernandez, as the Spanish international went nose to nose with the man who's been named La Liga's top official for the past three years.

Hernandez also drew criticism from current and former Real Madrid players after a match that was full of controversial plays and indecision, as there were various incidents - such as Jordi Alba putting his hand around Luka Modric's neck - that could have resulted in harsher punishments.