Soccer-Villarreal cry foul over Atletico winner

MADRID, April 9 (Reuters) - Villarreal have accused Atletico Madrid of unsporting behaviour after Fabiano Eller headed the only goal in Sunday's Primera Liga match while a player was down injured in the area.

Villarreal striker Guillermo Franco went down just near the goal line after an Atletico corner was cleared in the 31st minute.

The visitors collected the ball, put it out wide to striker Sergio Aguero, whose cross was flicked on allowing unopposed Brazilian defender Eller to head the winner.

"I am furious. They have used the fact we had a player down injured. They talk about fair play but we don't see this on the pitch," Villarreal president Fernando Roig was quoted as saying in Spanish media on Monday.

Home coach Manuel Pellegrini said: "Atletico should be proud of themselves for this goal.

"The referee should have stopped the play. He thought Franco only had a slight injury. It was so insignificant I had to change him at halftime."

Goalscorer Eller claimed he had not seen Franco down in the area.

"It's a shame my first goal in Spain has caused such a big fuss. I didn't see him as everything happened so quickly. It was only when I was celebrating the goal I saw the player in the area," he said.

The three points kept Atletico in the UEFA Cup qualification slots in sixth place. Villarreal are 12th.