Real Madrid TV launches fresh criticism at referees as relationship reaches breaking point

Real Madrid TV launches fresh criticism at referees as relationship reaches breaking point Three weeks since the Madrid derby, the controversy surrounding the refereeing in La Liga has resurfaced again. Real Madrid had launched a strong criticism of the officiating in the derby as they believed that several decisions went against them. And the events of the latest round of fixtures brought the issue back into focus. Indeed, the tensions escalated further after Vinicius Jr. was dismissed against Villarreal, with his red card also leading to the cancellation of a goal he had scored. The dispute between Real Madrid and the refereeing authorities shows little sign of ending . Real Madrid TV renews its criticism of the refereeing system As reported by AS , Real Madrid TV launched another strong criticism of the refereeing system after the Merengues’ 1-0 win Villarreal on Saturday night. The game ended with Vinicius sent off, five yellow cards shown to Real Madrid players, bookings for manager Jose Mourinho and team delegate Chendo, and a red card for goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos. In total, Real Madrid received nine cards for players and members of the coaching staff, despite committing only eight fouls. Mourinho was shown a yellow card. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) However, the club’s complaints, echoed by its official media channels, go beyond the statistics. They point to what they regard as a series of unfair decisions in both their own matches and those involving other teams. The Alaves-Atletico incident in focus An incident from the Alaves vs Atletico Madrid match this weekend was one example, where Angel Perez was sent off following a challenge on Julian Alvarez after VAR intervened. Referee Quintero Gonzalez initially showed a yellow card, but video assistant Pulido Santana considered the incident a clear case for a straight red. By contrast, a heavy challenge by Kang-in Lee on Federico Valverde during the Madrid derby went unpunished by referee Ortiz Arias and VAR Trujillo Suarez. Previous hair-pulling incidents fuel Real Madrid’s complaints The sense of grievance among the club and its supporters has been clear. Within minutes of Vinicius’ dismissal, footage circulated widely on social media showing Victor Laguardia pulling Marcelo’s hair during Real Madrid’s match against Alaves in 2020. No punishment was given for the incident, and a penalty appeal was also overlooked in a match Madrid lost 2-1. Real Madrid TV revisited that footage alongside more recent incidents. The previous time Vinícius was sent off was during Real Madrid’s match against Valencia in January 2025. Anger at Real Madrid over the refereeing inconsistencies. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) During a confrontation with Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, the goalkeeper grabbed the Brazilian to lift him off the ground, and Vinicius responded by pushing him around the neck. While the Real Madrid star was sent off, the Valencia player was not sanctioned. These comparisons have become central to Real Madrid’s argument that similar incidents are not being judged consistently. The Bernabeu turns against the referees The Negreira case remains a major source of tension, and the latest red card only heightened the atmosphere. Even before kick-off, chants of “Corruption in the Federation” had been heard repeatedly, alongside others such as “Negreira is still refereeing”. Vinicius’s dismissal, and the subsequent cancellation of his goal, proved the final straw for the Bernabeu crowd. The chants grew louder and more widespread after the incident, reflecting the anger felt by sections of the home support. For Real Madrid, the lack of a resolution in the Negreira case, combined with what the club regards as unfair refereeing decisions, continues to fuel dissatisfaction with the officials and the wider system.