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

Three weeks after the Madrid derby, criticism over refereeing decisions in La Liga has resurfaced. Real Madrid has once again expressed discontent with the officiating. Their latest grievances stem from Vinicius Jr.'s red card and the subsequent cancellation of a goal he scored. The dispute between the club and refereeing authorities appears set to continue.

Real Madrid TV has renewed its criticism of the refereeing system following the Merengues' 1-0 win against Villarreal. Vinicius was sent off, five yellow cards were shown to Real Madrid players, and bookings were given to the manager and team delegate, while goalkeeper coach Nuno Santos received a red card. In total, Real Madrid accumulated nine cards for players and coaching staff, despite committing only eight fouls.

Manager Jose Mourinho also received a yellow card. This controversy is not solely based on statistics; the club's complaints stem from what they perceive as unfair decisions in various matches.

A notable incident occurred during the Alaves vs Atletico Madrid match, where Angel Perez was sent off after a challenge on Julian Alvarez, despite VAR intervening and ruling it a red card. In contrast, a heavy challenge by Kang-in Lee on Federico Valverde during the Madrid derby went unpunished. Preceding incidents, such as Victor Laguardia pulling Marcelo's hair during Real Madrid's match against Alaves in 2020, have fueled the club's grievances.

The club and its supporters have been vocal in their dissatisfaction, with footage of past incidents circulating widely on social media.

The Bernabeu has become a hotbed for frustration towards referees. Pre-match chants of "Corruption in the Federation" and "Negreira is still refereeing" have been heard, reflecting the anger of home supporters. The Vinicius Jr. red card and the subsequent cancellation of his goal are seen as the final straw. The ongoing lack of resolution in the Negreira case, coupled with what the club perceives as unfair refereeing decisions, continues to fuel dissatisfaction with officials and the wider system.