LaLiga has accused Real Madrid of conducting a 'merciless campaign' against referees and offered its 'unequivocal support' to the official branded negligent by the club over his handling of anti-Vinícius Júnior chants this weekend.
Real Madrid filed a formal complaint with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Monday, alleging that referee Juan Martinez Munuera had 'voluntarily and deliberately omitted' crowd chants of 'Vinícius, die' from his match report after the club's 4-2 win at Osasuna on Saturday.
The RFEF responded by offering its 'total and unconditional support' to Martinez Munuera, calling the accusations 'unfair' and confirming that the incidents had been recorded by its match delegate at El Sadar.
LaLiga issued a statement expressing its rejection of Madrid's claims and its support for Martinez Munuera and Spanish referees collectively. The league emphasized its commitment to eradicating violence, racism, xenophobia, and intolerance in football by filing complaints with relevant authorities regarding incidents in matches in the First and Second Division.
LaLiga's Executive Commission characterized Madrid's complaint as part of a 'merciless campaign' against Spanish referees, aimed at pressuring the officials to gain a competitive advantage. The Referees' Technical Committee confirmed that Martinez Munuera's conduct was impeccable and in line with refereeing regulations.
Real Madrid and LaLiga have been at odds over various issues in recent years, including Madrid's involvement in the European Super League and disagreements over income distribution from TV rights. Madrid has publicly criticized the standard of refereeing in Spain this season, highlighting alleged mistakes before and after games on the club's television channel.
Last month, Sevilla also lodged a complaint accusing Madrid of engaging in a 'campaign of persecution and harassment' against officials following their LaLiga encounter.
