Real Madrid reported over ‘campaign of persecution’ against referees

Sevilla have reported Real Madrid to the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) over the club’s broadcast of criticism of referees, including the official who will take charge of Sunday’s game between the two teams.

Ahead of games this season, Real Madrid TV has shown analysis of mistakes from the referees scheduled to officiate their matches, which has regularly drawn criticism from the Spanish press and several La Liga clubs.

Now, however, Sevilla have become the first team to formally complain to the RFEF amid concerns that Real Madrid TV’s broadcast about referee Isidro Diaz de Mera will impact his decisions in Sunday’s match.

“Sevilla FC has proceeded to denounce this Saturday by means of a letter, before the Competition Committee of the RFEF, the campaign of persecution and harassment against referee Diaz de Mera, appointed as the main referee of tomorrow’s match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC, as well as against Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, referee appointed for the VAR, through Real Madrid TV, Real Madrid’s official television channel,” a Sevilla statement read.

“Sevilla FC would like to formally denounce the present events to the federation, in order to assess whether these events can be considered as an infringement of the General Regulations of the RFEF or any other regulations that are applicable to it.

“The club also wishes to reiterate its strongest condemnation of these behaviours and orchestrated campaigns to undermine the image of the refereeing establishment, doing serious damage to Spanish football and calling into question the integrity of the competition.”

Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has previously refused to involve himself in the controversy.

“I believe in referees,” he said when this issue was first raised back in October. “Sometimes a bit more, sometimes a bit less. You ask me about the [RMTV] videos, but you know better than me what freedom of expression is… I have to focus on my team, and leave the job of refereeing to the referees.”

The head of Spain’s referee body, Luis Medina Cantalejo, recently insisted Madrid are worse than any club on the planet for trying to pressure officials and called on the country’s government to get involved to stop the TV broadcasts.

“We don’t like it at all. There’s no sport, no team in the world that does this,” Cantalejo told COPE. “Teams have their [local] press which supports them, but what’s happening with this TV channel has never happened.

“What they’re doing seems absolutely negative to me. I’ve never seen it in 40 years of refereeing, putting pressure on before a game, every week. It’s negative, not just for refereeing, but for the image of Spanish football… We’ve put it in the hands of legal advice, to look into the matter.”