Real Madrid could be sanctioned by Spanish football authorities after the majority of La Liga called for the defending champions to be punished in a row over officiating in Spain.
Real Madrid’s formal complaint to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has sparked significant controversy following their 1-0 defeat to Espanyol on Saturday. The loss, which saw Carlos Romero’s goal secure victory for Espanyol, was marred by a controversial incident involving Kylian Mbappe. Romero avoided a red card for a foul on Mbappe earlier in the game, a decision that Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has openly criticized, calling it “inexplicable” and questioning the role of VAR in not overturning the call.
In response, Madrid president Florentino Perez lodged a formal complaint, demanding transparency from the RFEF. This complaint included a request for the audio recording of the match and an urgent reform of Spain’s refereeing system. Perez even suggested that referees from the Premier League should be brought in to raise the officiating standards in La Liga.
The complaint has not gone unchallenged. Spanish media reports indicate that La Liga clubs have largely united in opposition to Real Madrid’s actions, with some clubs calling for sanctions against the defending champions. The argument centers on the notion that Real Madrid is putting undue pressure on referees and showing disrespect toward other clubs in the league. Furthermore, Real Madrid’s absence from a crucial meeting on Thursday, attended by club directors, the La Liga president, and the president of the Technical Committee of Referees, has only fueled tensions.
This controversy has now become a major talking point in La Liga, not only for the officiating decisions but also for the broader implications it could have on referee management and the power dynamics between clubs in Spain’s top flight.
The ongoing controversy surrounding Real Madrid’s complaints about refereeing has created significant tension within La Liga. A meeting between club directors and officials has been described as historic by some, highlighting a new openness to discussing officiating decisions. One unnamed La Liga club director mentioned how, in the past, there was fear that criticizing referees would lead to negative consequences in subsequent matches, but now, they feel comfortable voicing their opinions without fear of retaliation.
Interestingly, Barcelona, one of Real Madrid’s biggest rivals, has taken a more conciliatory approach. A club director reportedly stated that despite past mistakes, Barcelona now wishes to maintain closer relationships with officials, which was seen as a positive shift.
At the same meeting, the possibility of making VAR audio recordings available to the public was discussed, and it seems that La Liga president Javier Tebas is in favor of the move, which could increase transparency and reduce some of the controversy surrounding refereeing decisions.
As for the upcoming Madrid derby, tensions between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have reached a boiling point. Atletico Madrid took a playful jab at their rivals, mocking Real Madrid’s complaints about referees. They posted a social media image that resembled an Ikea assembly guide, humorously captioned “basic instructions for the derby”, suggesting that Real Madrid’s focus on refereeing issues may distract them from their actual game plan.
With Real Madrid just one point ahead of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, this derby promises to be charged with both sporting and political drama, as both teams will be eager to assert dominance and claim a crucial victory.
