Real Madrid has intensified its ongoing feud with La Liga officiating, directing accusations at its rivals, FC Barcelona.
The Spanish giants, led by president Florentino Perez, are intensifying their scrutiny of refereeing decisions, citing perceived inconsistencies that they believe undermine the integrity of the competition.
According to Marca, Real Madrid’s discontent stems from controversial calls in the first four matchdays, particularly a glaring error in the red card shown to Dean Huijsen against Real Sociedad, where VAR failed to intervene.
Club officials at Valdebebas view these decisions as premeditated, pointing fingers at Barcelona and the lingering shadow of the Negreira case.
Real Madrid’s narrative, amplified through their official channel, Real Madrid TV, now frequently compares refereeing decisions in their matches to those involving Barcelona, suggesting a pattern of bias rooted in past practices.
Notably, they highlight a period from February 2016 to March 2018 when Barcelona faced no penalties against them, fueling suspicions.
The Negreira case, involving alleged payments by Barcelona to a former refereeing official, remains central to Real Madrid’s argument.
Perez has publicly emphasized to club members that these past actions continue to cast doubt over current officiating standards.
With upcoming testimonies from figures like Barcelona president Joan Laporta, Luis Enrique, and Ernesto Valverde, the case is set to gain further traction, and Real Madrid is determined to pursue it relentlessly.
This shift in strategy marks a departure from focusing solely on their own matches to scrutinizing Barcelona’s games, analyzing penalties, red cards, and disciplinary actions.
As tensions rise, referee Gil Manzano is also expected to face scrutiny in the coming weeks.
Real Madrid’s leadership insists the current refereeing system cannot be trusted while doubts persist.
For Los Blancos, this battle extends beyond the pitch, as they aim to expose what they perceive as systemic issues in Spanish football, with Barcelona at the heart of their accusations.
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