La Liga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have formulated a precautionary plan to protect referees, amid growing belief within both institutions that Real Madrid may escalate their critical campaign against the refereeing system through their official television channel in the coming period.
The move follows heated scenes during Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Villarreal, a fixture marked by Vinícius Júnior’s red card and the overturning of a goal scored by the Brazilian following a VAR intervention.
Real Madrid finished the match with nine cards distributed among their players and coaching staff despite committing just eight fouls. Five players received yellow cards, goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos was sent off, and both manager José Mourinho and club delegate Chendo were booked.
Real Madrid TV launched a scathing attack on the officiating, claiming the competition suffers from “double standards in the application of rules” and subsequently linking the latest decisions to the Negreira case while accusing the system of “systemic corruption”—allegations that have not been proven by any sporting or judicial body.
Conversely, voices within the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) maintain that the VAR intervention to dismiss Vinícius was correct, though they expressed deep concern over the hostile atmosphere surrounding the club’s matches, viewing the criticism as extending beyond technical error evaluations to questioning the integrity of the entire competition.
The roots of Real Madrid’s frustration this season trace back to the Madrid derby against Atlético, when Kang-in Lee escaped a red card despite a heavy challenge on Federico Valverde. The Referee Committee later acknowledged that the tackle warranted a dismissal, providing the club with fresh ammunition to highlight perceived inconsistencies in standards.
The specific mechanisms of the emergency plan have not yet been disclosed, nor whether it will entail legal and institutional steps. The plan does not imply that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Real Madrid; the “red lines” for refereeing authorities remain accusations of intentional wrongdoing or corruption, rather than mere protests against technical decisions.
The dossier grows increasingly sensitive as Real Madrid approach a trip to face Sevilla, followed by El Clásico against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on October 25—a fixture Vinícius risks missing through suspension, threatening to push the media war to unprecedented levels of heat.
