Carlos Clos Gómez is responsible for the VAR. He was never well-regarded by Real Madrid during his time as a referee. Now even less in his role leading the VAR.
Real Madrid TV crucifies him every matchday, and Real Madrid under Florentino Pérez made their position clear in their controversial refereeing statement. Lately, he has also received criticism from Mateu Lahoz, the former referee who is running for president of the referees, sponsored by Florentino Pérez.
The Controversial Figure of Mateu Lahoz
Clos Gómez was interviewed last night on El Larguero, and he left several remarks that reveal the tension prevailing in Spanish refereeing.
According to Clos Gómez, Mateu Lahoz has significantly contributed to that tension by harshly criticizing his former colleagues in his TV analyses.
The Technical Committee of Referees has accused Mateu Lahoz of "generating hatred" among the refereeing community. Clos Gómez is surprised that with his resume, he is not in the Federation, UEFA, or FIFA.
This is what he said last night on Cadena Ser:
-On Real Madrid's statement: “There are letters like Madrid's from several teams. Madrid's has an uncommon media importance, and I took it as just another one.”
"Real Madrid TV's Videos Are Regrettable, Someday Something Big Will Happen"
-The controversial videos of Real Madrid TV: “I find them regrettable. It's a medium linked to a club. What they say isn't right...
Worse, I think, is that there are journalists who generate violence. I receive death threats every week. But the thug who chases someone in lower categories has been listening to those things...
We need more respect for the figure of the referee. Someday something very big will happen.”
-The reforms demanded by Real Madrid due to Negreira: “What referee wasn't around during Negreira's time? Right now, in the First Division, 95% were...
Only eight years ago, we would have to put a kid in charge of referees.”
-Real Madrid demands the VAR audios: “We invite all teams, but with a minimum of respect. They didn't demand to listen to the audios, but to have them sent. We don't do that."
"Mateu Is Resentful Because He's Not in the Federation, UEFA, or FIFA"
-The figure of Mateu Lahoz: “I was his friend. Now he seems like a meme to me. Everything he does is criticize for the sake of criticizing, he's resentful with the CTA, it's a shame...
He was a great referee, he was special. We could call him 'special one' for everything he did. But the players understood him...
Right now, he's in a process of defamation against the former president of the referees, Velasco Carballo, and the current one, Medina Cantalejo. He doesn't hold a candle to them, especially as a person.
It's a shame that someone with that resume hasn't been called by the RFEF, UEFA, or FIFA... He should take a look at himself.”
Calls Mateu "Cowardly and Resentful" and Reminds Him That "He Knows Negreira Didn't Matter"
-Lawsuits have been announced against Mateu Lahoz: "I would do it against a person who defames, without evidence... We are in the worst moment of Spanish refereeing, due to the Negreira case, and for a former referee who has been here, who knows the truth, that this man didn't matter... He sows doubt!...
These resentful former referees are so cowardly, they suggest and don't say. No, let him say it, but with evidence. If there's someone else who has to go to jail, let them go...
We would be delighted if everything came out tomorrow. Because 99.9% of referees in Spain are honest. Unfortunately, we have been doubted.”
His relationship with Mateu Lahoz: “Mateu's situation hurts me. Refereeing is a family. We've lived through moments, good, tough...
But when he leaves and starts lying blatantly. I've been to his house, he's been to mine, I know his family... It hurts me a lot.”