Real Madrid have issued a strong condemnation of Spanish refereeing, describing it as “rigged” and “completely discredited” in the wake of their unexpected 1-0 loss to struggling Espanyol on Saturday.
The club’s outrage stems from a controversial decision in the 61st minute, when Espanyol defender Carlos Romero avoided a red card for a reckless challenge on Kylian Mbappé, receiving only a yellow. Adding to the frustration, Romero later scored the match’s sole goal, narrowing Madrid’s lead at the top of La Liga to just one point.
“The events of the match exceeded any margin for human error or refereeing interpretation,” Real Madrid’s board secretary, José Luis del Valle Pérez, wrote in a letter to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), which the club published online.
Madrid also took issue with a disallowed goal by Vinícius Júnior after Mbappé was penalised for a foul in the buildup. The club has demanded the immediate release of VAR audio recordings related to both decisions, arguing that refereeing decisions against them “have reached a level of manipulation and alteration of the competition that cannot be ignored.”
Madrid called for a complete overhaul of Spain’s refereeing system, accusing it of being “structurally built to protect itself” and “corrupt from within.”
“When those responsible for oversight are the same ones influencing key decisions, we end up with what we are currently experiencing,” the club said in a statement.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti also criticised the officiating, insisting Romero should have been sent off. “It was a clear foul, a very ugly tackle. We’re lucky there’s no serious injury,” he said.