Real Madrid has formally submitted a complaint to the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Rafael Louzán, and the Higher Sports Council (CSD) over what it considers a "scandalous refereeing and VAR performance" during its LaLiga match against Espanyol.

"The events in this match have gone beyond any margin of human error or refereeing interpretation," the club stated in its release, expressing discontent over the disallowed goal by Vinícius and the harsh tackle by Carlos Romero on Kylian Mbappé, which was not penalized with a red card.

A Refereeing System Under Scrutiny

Real Madrid claims that what happened at RCDE Stadium is proof of a discredited refereeing system, where decisions against the club have reached a level of manipulation that can no longer be ignored. In its statement, the club denounces a "double standard" in key plays, such as the "brutal tackle" on Mbappé, which should have resulted in an immediate red card, and the "completely legal" goal by Vinícius, which was disallowed despite Mbappé being fouled in what the club calls a "clear penalty."

Additionally, the club considers it serious that referee Muñiz Ruiz recorded in the match report that Romero's yellow card was for a ball dispute, which Real Madrid claims distorts reality to justify the decision. The team also criticizes the lack of VAR intervention, operated by Iglesias Villanueva, and highlights the global media reaction to the controversy, with international press condemning the biased use of VAR in Spain.

Urgent Reform and VAR Transparency

In its complaint, Real Madrid requests that the RFEF immediately release the VAR audio recordings for the two crucial plays, arguing that their content is essential to clarifying what happened. "The Spanish refereeing system is completely flawed and designed to protect itself," the club asserts, denouncing the lack of effective sanctions against referees responsible for controversial decisions.

The club also references the "Negreira case," where Barcelona is under investigation for payments to José María Enríquez Negreira while he held a senior position in the Technical Committee of Referees. According to Real Madrid, the lack of consequences for these actions reflects the structural problems within Spanish refereeing and the lack of transparency in the competition.

The club concludes that isolated sanctions or superficial changes in refereeing structures are not enough. It demands a deep reform to ensure impartiality and eliminate political influence within the refereeing system. "We cannot accept that the competition continues under a discredited system, whose officials still make key decisions," Real Madrid states, emphasizing the urgent need for measures to restore the credibility of Spanish football.