The match between Espanyol and Real Madrid left many doubts among Madrid fans. The white team missed the opportunity to maintain their lead in LaLiga with an unexpected defeat. Despite dominating much of the match, the lack of accuracy and some refereeing decisions were decisive.
Espanyol knew how to take advantage of their chances and resisted Real Madrid's attempts to equalize. The only goal of the match came in the second half, in a play that left Madrid fans with many complaints. However, the most controversial aspect was not the result, but an action that could have changed the outcome of the match.
Controversial refereeing decision in the Espanyol-Real Madrid
In the first half, Madrid launched a dangerous counterattack that could have ended in a goal. Just before Mbappé accelerated toward the area, Carlos Romero stopped him with a hard tackle. The action raised alarms, as it could have left the French forward injured.
For most fans and analysts, the play deserved a direct red card. However, Muñiz Ruiz only showed a yellow, leaving Espanyol with eleven on the field. The decision caused immediate protests, but the VAR didn't intervene to rectify it either.
Carlos Romero, decisive after the controversy
Minutes after the controversial action, Carlos Romero appeared in the rival area and scored the only goal of the match. The play was a double injustice for Madrid, who were disadvantaged on both sides of the field. With one less man, Espanyol would have had difficulties maintaining the result.
The Madrid fans quickly pointed to Muñiz Ruiz as the main responsible for the defeat. Carlos Romero's action was key, and the referee allowed him to continue in the match. The controversy quickly spread and ended with an unexpected decision by the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA).
Muñiz Ruiz, sanctioned by the CTA
After analyzing the match and the controversial play, the CTA has decided to punish Muñiz Ruiz by putting him in the freezer. The referee will be out for several matches as a consequence of his mistake. Additionally, the VAR referee who didn't intervene to correct the decision has also been sanctioned.
This measure seeks to prevent similar errors from happening in the future. Although the result will not change, the sanction acknowledges that Muñiz Ruiz's decision was wrong. Now, Real Madrid moves forward with the feeling of having been disadvantaged in a key match for the fight for LaLiga.