Madrid have taken their long-running complaints about Spanish refereeing beyond La Liga, preparing a detailed dossier for FIFA. According to Mundo Deportivo the report will feature videos, comparisons, and specific plays – such as Arda Guler’s disallowed goal, Kylian Mbappe’s marginal offsides, and most recently, Huijsen’s red card at Anoeta. Club president Florentino Perez wants international scrutiny, arguing that domestic refereeing lacks credibility and consistency.
The turning point came against Sociedad when referee Jesus Gil Manzano dismissed 19-year-old Huijsen for a last-man foul. Madrid maintain that Militao was covering, meaning the card should have been yellow at most, and argue that VAR failed to intervene. The club are compiling statistics, including those of their domestic rivals Barcelona, to highlight disparities in refereeing decisions between the two clubs over a given period.
Madrid’s complaint also revives the Negreira case, the scandal involving over €7 million paid by Barcelona to former referees’ chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira between 2001 and 2018. While Barcelona insist these were consultancy fees, prosecutors have charged former presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Bartomeu with corruption. Los Blancos argue that the scandal still taints Spanish refereeing, since many officials who came through the system during Negreira’s tenure remain active today.
In a press-conference, Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso said: “It’s legitimate to defend our interests. As long as the club does it, it’s fine. I don’t want the refereeing issue to be a one-track mind. Let’s think about tomorrow. The Anoeta incident has been discussed enough.”
As the Spanish club prepares to submit its complaint to FIFA, the next steps remain uncertain. The club’s actions may prompt FIFA to review Spanish refereeing practices, potentially leading to reforms or increased oversight. However, the outcome will depend on FIFA’s willingness to engage with the issues raised and the responses from other stakeholders within Spanish football.
