LaLiga Officials Weigh Strike Action in Response to Real Madrid’s Manipulation Claims

LaLiga referees are reportedly considering a strike following accusations from Real Madrid that officiating decisions have been manipulated against the club. The Champions League winners released a controversial statement claiming that “decisions against Real Madrid have reached a level of manipulation and adulteration of the competition that can no longer be ignored.”

The club’s frustration stems from their recent 1-0 loss to Espanyol, where a Vinicius Jr. goal was disallowed and Espanyol’s Carlos Romero received only a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Kylian Mbappe before scoring the winning goal. Real Madrid has called for the immediate release of VAR audio footage related to these incidents.

In response to these accusations, some LaLiga referees are reportedly in favor of strike action. Journalist Isaac Fouto stated, “There are referees from the First Division who believe that they should go on strike.” However, he emphasized that such action would require unanimous participation from all officials.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has defended its officials, stating that while refereeing decisions are subject to review, generalized accusations undermining their integrity harm the credibility of soccer as a whole. The RFEF warned against the consequences of systematically questioning refereeing decisions outside established channels.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti commented on the state of officiating, suggesting that referees in the English Premier League perform better due to less pressure compared to their LaLiga counterparts.

As tensions escalate, the potential for a referee strike looms over LaLiga, threatening to disrupt the competition and highlighting the growing discord between clubs, officials, and governing bodies in Spanish football.