Real Madrid to File Complaint with FIFA Over Refereeing

In a surprising twist, Real Madrid, a club often accused of benefiting from refereeing decisions in La Liga, has now lodged a complaint against referees. The club has even threatened to escalate the matter to FIFA, following a contentious red card issued to their defender Dean Huijsen.

Incident Overview

• Match: Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad
• Result: Real Madrid 2–1 Real Sociedad
• Controversy: Red card shown to Dean Huijsen in the 32nd minute

During a ball contest with Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal, Huijsen was penalised despite Oyarzabal not having full control of the ball. The referee, Jesús Gil Manzano, issued a direct red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

This decision prompted immediate protest from Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, who received a yellow card for dissent. Video clips of Alonso’s reaction went viral on social media, in which he stated: “Jesús, I don’t want to think badly, but you’re forcing me to. Didn’t you see Militão was right beside him? Five metres away! This will definitely go to the CTA (Technical Committee) and the video review.”

Alonso later addressed the issue in the post-match press conference: “In my opinion, it should have been a yellow card. Militão was very close, Oyarzabal did not have full control, and he still had 40 metres to cover. The referee has a different interpretation, but even after reviewing the replay, my opinion did not change. VAR should have provided an alternate explanation.

According to Real Madrid TV, the club is preparing a comprehensive report documenting:

• Controversial refereeing decisions from the first four rounds of this season
• Disputed decisions against Real Madrid during the previous season

This report will be submitted to FIFA, with the aim of providing clarity on the refereeing situation in Spanish football.

Timeline of Key Events

Summary

• Real Madrid is taking an unprecedented step, complaining about refereeing decisions, despite the club’s historical reputation for benefiting from them.
• The focus is on ensuring that VAR and refereeing standards are fairly assessed at the national and international level.
• The submission to FIFA signals the club’s intent to formally highlight perceived inconsistencies in Spanish football officiating.