LaLiga Reports Real Madrid to the Disciplinary Committee for Criticism of Referees

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La Liga to Take Real Madrid to Court Over Criticism of Referees

LaLiga has filed a complaint before the Disciplinary Committee of the RFEF against Real Madrid CF, as a result of the letter that this club directed to the refereeing body of the competition in terms of criticism. With this action, LaLiga reinforces its commitment to the integrity and respect of its officiating teams.

The controversy arose right after Real Madrid lost 1-0 to Espanyol on February 3, 2025. Real Madrid subsequently released an official statement from the club management expressing their feeling of being “deeply disgusted” with officiating, identifying two incidents most clearly:

1. Non-Red Card Incident: A foul by Espanyol defender Carlos Romero against Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé-a foul that the club believes had to be considered a direct red card.

2. Denied Goal: A goal by Vinícius Júnior that was invalidated due to a presumed prior foul.

In its letter, Real Madrid described the refereeing apparatus as “discredited,” “corrupt,” and “fraudulent,” while demanding full “structural reform” of the Spanish officiating structure. It further called on the club to be provided immediately with access to the VAR audio recordings regarding the above-mentioned incidents.

Javier Tebas, President of LaLiga, reacted to the claims of Real Madrid: “We are going to file a complaint against the club, against those who signed the letter, against the board. We are analyzing it from a legal point of view because, of course, this type of letter cannot be tolerated.”

It also puts in recognition of the complaint by LaLiga and requests a statement from Real Madrid, which could then be followed by sanctions if the circumstances described below merit such.

Several first-category Spanish clubs have expressed support for LaLiga’s stance. José María del Nido Carrasco, President of Sevilla FC, said the following: “Real Madrid’s statement about the referees is intolerable and inadmissible. It brings into question the honor of the referees and the integrity of the competition. The football world must publicly and legally denounce such a statement because it attacks the integrity of this sport.”

For its part, the Technical Committee of Referees has also made its displeasure known, arguing that such a public outcry diminishes the prestige of Spanish football. Amid these events, some talk of a strike has emerged among the referees-a reflection of the concern because of the escalation.

“If they don’t explain it, it is a problem,” Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti said, and he made sure everybody knows his demand for accountability in the officiating system.

This has brought into sharp focus the ongoing debate about refereeing standards in Spanish football. LaLiga is fully committed to upholding the integrity of the game and adhering to the values of respect and sportsmanship from everyone involved with the sport.