Real Madrid officials met with Spain's refereeing body on Monday following the club's formal complaint about officiating decisions in their recent 1-0 defeat to Espanyol. The meeting, which took place at the Spanish football federation (RFEF) headquarters in Las Rozas, was attended by Madrid's director general José Ángel Sánchez and board secretary José Luis del Valle.
The controversy stems from a challenge on Kylian Mbappé by Espanyol defender Carlos Romero, who was not shown a red card and later went on to score the winning goal. Real Madrid's subsequent complaint to the RFEF alleged "manipulation and adulteration" of the competition, claiming Spain's refereeing system was "completely discredited." These strong accusations prompted angry responses from the federation, LaLiga, and other clubs.
Luis Medina Cantalejo, head of Spain's technical committee of referees (CTA), characterized the meeting as constructive, telling journalists, "It's normal that there are questions that have to be asked about an incident." He emphasized the lengthy discussion took place in "an atmosphere of friendliness and good manners," noting that "if there'd have been a confrontation, which isn't what anybody expected or wanted, the meeting would have been over in five minutes."
The meeting included a review of the VAR audio from the controversial match, though sources told ESPN that Real Madrid remained unconvinced about the decision not to dismiss Romero. The club has pushed for changes, but sources indicate they feel their complaint has left them vulnerable, particularly given referencing decisions in subsequent matches.
Madrid's frustration with officiating extends beyond the Espanyol match, with the club expressing dissatisfaction with decisions in their recent 1-1 draws against Atlético Madrid and Osasuna. Coach Carlo Ancelotti voiced his concerns, stating, "In our last three games, things have happened that everybody has seen. I think there's a problem [with referees]. In the last three games something has happened that shouldn't have happened." However, he refrained from further comment, citing his desire to "be sat on the bench for the next match."
The club has consistently raised concerns about officiating in LaLiga, regularly highlighting perceived errors through their TV channel, Real Madrid TV. While the federation sources characterized the talks as positive, noting that Madrid received the same treatment as any other club, the ongoing tension between the club and Spanish football's officiating bodies appears far from resolved.
