Reports have indicated that La Liga referees are considering going on strike following a statement from Real Madrid that questioned their integrity.
In a surprising statement, the Spanish club said, “The decisions against Real Madrid have reached a level of manipulation and cheating in the competition that can no longer be ignored. Once again, the scandal caused by this match has had global repercussions, as the international press has condemned the biased use of VAR technology in Spain and the lack of credibility in Spanish refereeing.”
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Los Blancos players were furious with the officiating in their 1-0 loss to Espanyol in the 22nd round of La Liga. The referee disallowed Vinícius Júnior’s first-half goal due to a foul by Kylian Mbappé on an Espanyol defender.
Additionally, the referee only issued a yellow card to Carlos Romero for his violent challenge on Mbappé before he went on to score the winning goal.
Sanctions
The Spanish Football Federation’s Technical Committee of Referees imposed an immediate sanction on the referees who officiated the Real Madrid vs. Espanyol match.
Referees Muniz Ruiz (match referee) and Iglesias Villanueva (VAR official) faced heavy criticism for failing to show a red card to Romero.
This incident sparked widespread controversy within Real Madrid, with head coach Carlo Ancelotti voicing his discontent. The issue also gained significant media attention both locally and internationally. Real Madrid demanded the immediate release of the VAR audio recordings related to the incident.
Ancelotti’s Opinion
Ancelotti finally broke his silence, stating that refereeing in the English Premier League is better than in La Liga.
Commenting on the matter, he said, “Which league has the best referees? It’s hard to say. It’s a difficult job. What I can say is that referees in England are under less pressure, which allows them to do their job better.”
Strike Threat
Journalist Isaac Fouto from “COPE” reported that some La Liga referees are considering striking in response to the allegations.
“There are top-tier referees who believe they should go on strike,” he said.
However, he added, “A strike means everyone or no one. Some have said they would participate, but it must be a collective decision. The matter is being considered. If it happens, the competition will come to a halt.”
Support Statement
Following Real Madrid’s statement, the Spanish Football Federation issued a statement in support of its referees.
“The task of refereeing is, by nature, subject to review and analysis,” the federation stated. “However, this must not lead to general accusations that cast doubt on their integrity. Such accusations not only affect the referees themselves but also erode the credibility of football as a whole.”
The statement continued, “It is important to consider the consequences of this systematic questioning of refereeing decisions. Constantly undermining the legitimacy of referees outside of established channels creates an atmosphere of distrust that does not benefit Spanish football or its competitions.”
