Madrid, Spain – Real Madrid has launched a scathing attack on Spanish refereeing following their shocking 1-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Espanyol over the weekend, describing the officiating as “rigged” and “completely discredited.”
The La Liga giants were left fuming after Espanyol defender Carlos Romero escaped a red card for a reckless challenge on Kylian Mbappe in the 61st minute of Saturday’s match. Adding further controversy, Romero went on to score the winning goal, leaving Madrid’s lead at the top of La Liga reduced to just one point.
Real Madrid’s Official Complaint
In a strongly-worded letter to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Jose Luis del Valle Perez, the secretary of Real Madrid’s board of directors, expressed outrage over what the club sees as manipulation and unfair treatment.
“The events of the match exceeded any margin for human error or refereeing interpretation,” Perez wrote. “What happened at the RCDE Stadium represents the peak of a completely discredited refereeing system, in which decisions against Real Madrid have reached a level of manipulation and alteration of the competition that cannot be ignored.”
VAR Controversy Sparks Outrage
Real Madrid’s anger wasn’t limited to the Romero tackle. Another controversial moment came when Vinicius Junior’s goal was disallowed after the referee ruled that Mbappe had fouled his marker in the build-up.
In response, Real Madrid demanded that the RFEF release the VAR audio recordings for both decisions.
“Given the seriousness of the facts, Real Madrid demands that the RFEF immediately hand over the VAR audios relating to these two key actions in the match,” the club statement read.
Calls for Major Refereeing Reforms
The Los Blancos further called for a “complete reform” of Spanish refereeing, claiming that the current system is biased and corrupt.
“The refereeing system in Spain is completely rigged and structurally built to protect itself,” Madrid said.
“When those who should be the object of supervision and control are, at the same time, a decisive factor in the choice of those who should carry out this task of supervision, we end up with what we are currently experiencing,” the statement continued.
According to Madrid, the refereeing body lacks accountability, and the current system is designed to shield referees from scrutiny rather than ensure fairness.
“It has proved to be corrupt from within,” the club concluded.
Ancelotti Criticizes Romero Tackle
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti also voiced his frustration after the match, particularly regarding Romero’s tackle on Mbappe.
“It was a clear foul, a very ugly tackle, lucky there’s no serious injury,” Ancelotti told reporters.
La Liga Title Race Tightens
The controversial defeat means that Real Madrid’s lead at the top of the table is now just one point, increasing pressure on the team as the season enters a crucial phase.
While Espanyol celebrated a massive victory, Madrid is left demanding justice, with calls for reform growing louder.
With tensions boiling over, all eyes are now on how the RFEF will respond to Madrid’s allegations—and whether the refereeing controversy will have any lasting impact on the La Liga title race.
