Real Madrid has expressed dissatisfaction with recent refereeing decisions in LaLiga, following a series of contentious matches against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid. Their grievances culminated in a formal letter to the Spanish FA, questioning the integrity of match officials within the league. This move comes in the wake of critical remarks from Real Madrid's manager, Carlo Ancelotti, who has compared Spanish refereeing unfavorably to that in other European leagues.
Ancelotti has been vocal about his concerns, particularly after a 1-0 loss to Espanyol and a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid. He cited several refereeing decisions that he believes have negatively impacted the team's performance. Meanwhile, Real Madrid's captain, Karim Benzema, issued an apology to fans for not addressing these issues sooner, clarifying previous remarks that were misconstrued as criticism of referees.
The tension escalated further when Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham received a two-game suspension for "disrespect" towards a match official during a game against Osasuna. The incident involved foul language directed at the referee, though Bellingham avoided a longer ban. The referee involved denied any "false accusation" by local media, which had led to his temporary sidelining by the Spanish FA.
Real Madrid has also raised concerns about the VAR system in LaLiga, which Ancelotti criticized after a penalty was awarded to Atletico Madrid. The club's dissatisfaction with refereeing standards was echoed by Ancelotti's statement:
"The statistics speak for themselves. There are fewer VAR interventions, only when it's necessary." – Carlo Ancelotti
In response to ongoing controversies, Ancelotti expressed bewilderment at the decisions affecting his team:
"We're obviously not happy with it, with what happened against Osasuna, what happened against Atletico. It's been three games where we have been harmed by some decisions that we still don't understand. I don't understand." – Carlo Ancelotti
Despite these challenges, Real Madrid is gearing up for their Champions League knockout play-off second leg against Manchester City. Ancelotti praised the standard of refereeing in the Champions League, noting the presence of a European referee for the upcoming match. This distinction reflects his belief in superior officiating standards in European competitions compared to LaLiga.
The club's focus now shifts to reclaiming their position at the top of LaLiga, which they lost amid recent controversies. Ancelotti, however, refrained from further comments on their league standing:
"I already gave my opinion on what happened and is still happening," – Carlo Ancelotti
Federico Valverde, another Real Madrid player, emphasized understanding and patience towards referees, acknowledging human error:
"I've always said that I am no one to judge a referee that is doing his job," – Federico Valverde
"We are all humans and we can make mistakes. Referees are criticised and when they do things well, we never flatter them." – Federico Valverde
As Real Madrid prepares for their upcoming match against Manchester City, Ancelotti remains optimistic and strategic:
"We have a small advantage which we have to take advantage of. We'll try to play the same game we did in the first leg, and things worked out pretty well there." – Carlo Ancelotti
The club anticipates a fair contest under European refereeing standards, hopeful for a positive outcome. Meanwhile, Ancelotti humorously addressed potential gamesmanship from Manchester City's Pep Guardiola by considering raising these issues directly with his counterpart.
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