rhroyal The ref can't be 100% blamed, but I've seen very few matches where a ref's input has been so significant.
The referee's input is usually significant.
Getting things RIGHT makes a significant contribution.
But of course people don;t think like that and credit officials with making GOOD decisions that were crucial in a game.
I'd also challenge your assumption that the team that somehow 'deserves' to win a game should do so. Football is decided on goals, not artistic merit and Chelsea didn;t do enough to beat Barca. They resorted to something that they do quite often and blamed someone else....