Real Madrid presented a letter protesting the refereeing in their last match against Espanyol. The letter has caused mixed reactions and has put the refereeing decisions and the system that regulates football in Spain at the center of the debate. However, not everyone shares the opinion of the white club, especially former referees, among whom Iturralde González stands out.
Real Madrid's letter
Real Madrid, in an official statement, expressed indignation with the refereeing decisions in the match against Espanyol, in which the white club suffered a 1-0 defeat. The club considered that referee Carlos Romero should have sent off an opposing player, Kylian Mbappé, for a dangerous tackle.
The letter criticized the refereeing system, labeling the decisions against Madrid as "manipulation" and "adulteration." The club called for a reform of the system, arguing that unfair decisions damage the integrity of the competition.
Reactions in the football world
Real Madrid's letter quickly caused reactions. La Liga and the RFEF defended their stance, although the Federation avoided commenting directly on Madrid. However, the most significant reply came from the refereeing world.
Referees and former referees quickly expressed their stance on Real Madrid's letter. In particular, Iturralde González, a former LaLiga referee, was very blunt in his assessment.
Iturralde González: Strong criticism
Iturralde González, known for his direct and outspoken style, didn't hesitate to describe Real Madrid's letter as "opportunistic." In his intervention on Cadena Ser, the former referee stated that Madrid's letter had no constructive purpose. According to González, the letter wasn't intended to improve refereeing or promote change in football, but simply served to "muddy the situation."
The former referee also criticized what he considers "falsehoods and half-truths" in the content of the letter. For him, these attitudes create a negative atmosphere and confusion among fans and professionals.
The view of other former referees
Not all former referees agreed with Iturralde González regarding Real Madrid's letter. Mateu Lahoz, a former referee, opined that Madrid's letter wasn't the way, but agreed that the RFEF system needs reform.
Lahoz accused the Federation of not adequately protecting referees, which creates insecurity in their work. Lahoz and González agreed that the letter wasn't the solution and advocated for a review of the refereeing system.