RFEF responds to Real Madrid’s official complaint over refereeing errors | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s defeat to Espanyol earlier this week was riddled with controversy as an Espanyol player was spared from a blatant red card in what is the nth refereeing error against Los Blancos this season.

To make matters worse, it was the same player who scored the winner for the Catalans at the RCDE Stadium, and the result had a massive impact on the league standings as it saw the Merengues drop three critical points in the title race.

Needless to say, the matter raised serious concern over the refereeing standards this season and the blatant errors that go punished week after week. In light of the same, Real Madrid filed a formal complaint to the RFEF.

RFEF respond to the complaint

The RFEF officially shared their stance on the situation, not particularly taking sides but pushing forward the idea that they are looking to make football more fair and transparent with their approaches.

“The Spanish Football Federation confirms its commitment to transparency, integrity, and the continuous improvement of the refereeing mechanisms, which are fundamental pillars to ensure the development and integrity of our competitions,” the statement began, sparking clarity into the federation’s bid for fair play.

They went on to acknowledge the concern raised by Real Madrid but defended the referees with conviction.

“We deeply regret the tone and seriousness of the accusations which raise questions about the integrity of the refereeing bodies and the functioning of the competition as a whole.”

“We recognize that in the development of professional football, there may be differences regarding certain decisions, but we trust that all parties will act with the responsibility and respect that the highest level of our sport demands,” it added.

The official statement also elaborated in detail on their appreciation towards the work done by referees and how their calls cannot be scrutinized so microscopically.

“In this regard, we would like to express our absolute respect and appreciation to all our referees, who perform their work with professionalism, precision and under constant evaluation.”

“The refereeing task is by its nature subject to review and analysis, but this cannot lead to public accusations questioning its integrity, as this not only affects the referees themselves but also erodes the credibility of football,” it added.

The foul on Mbappe went unpunished. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The statement also lashed out indirectly at Real Madrid for repeatedly raising questions over referees’ calls and calling out conspiracy at the drop of a hat.

“It is important to reflect on the consequences of this type of systematic questioning of refereeing. The constant delegitimization of refereeing outside the established channels creates a climate of mistrust that does not benefit Spanish football or its competitions.”

“Constructive criticism is always welcome and is necessary for continuous improvement, but it must be done within the established frameworks and with the respect required of all parties that make up our sport.”

With the matter taken into consideration, the official statement spoke about the efforts the Spanish federation is consistently involved in to elevate the refereeing standards, saying,

“The Spanish Football Federation is engaged in a process of structural modernization and improvement in all areas of refereeing, in line with international best practices and with the support of the competent bodies in this field.”

“At the same time, the aim of this new phase of dialogue and joint action is to move forward with the support of all players in Spanish football. In this regard, there are forums and meetings, such as the one that will be held this week with all professional clubs, where everyone can express themselves and contribute to improving the sport.”

Finally, they reaffirmed their commitment towards transparent and equal standards for all clubs in their jurisdiction, promising a level playing ground.

“We reaffirm our commitment to transparency and continuous improvement of our competitions, and we are confident that the cooperation of the clubs, in a constructive spirit and within the regulatory framework, will contribute to further strengthening Spanish football.”

Source: RFEF official website