Florentino Pérez and his administration are once again furious after the Matchday 28 clash between Atlético Madrid and FC Barcelona. During this decisive encounter in the La Liga title race, regulations, which are strictly enforced on Real Madrid and its players, were repeatedly breached.
This season, La Liga has become one of the most injustice-tainted leagues. While Real Madrid would be leading the table without blatant VAR errors, direct rivals such as FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are benefiting from preferential treatment. Already at odds with La Liga officials over the scheduling of last Saturday’s match against Villarreal, which did not comply with FIFA regulations, Florentino Pérez and his board were outraged by blatant irregularities during the showdown between the Colchoneros and the Blaugrana on Sunday night.
Barça above the rules?
During this crucial title-race clash, refereeing once again proved deficient. On multiple occasions throughout the match, Barça appeared to benefit from highly favourable officiating, sparking growing anger within Real Madrid’s camp. One key incident that could have influenced the final outcome was Jules Koundé escaping a red card for striking Giovanni Simeone—a gesture similar to the one that led to Vinicius Junior’s red card earlier this year in the Valencia vs Real Madrid match.
While Madrid players like Vinicius or Bellingham receive bookings or even get sent off for mere protests, their opponents, particularly the Catalans, seem to enjoy a certain level of impunity. Real Madrid’s frustration is further fuelled by the fact that several Barça players protested vehemently against the referee without receiving a single booking. A notable point: none of these players were captains, which is a clear breach of the rules. According to regulations, only the captain is allowed to challenge refereeing decisions.
Yet, as Florentino Pérez pointed out, this rule seems to apply exclusively to Real Madrid. The Catalans, on the other hand, appear to act freely without fear of sanctions. In response to this inconsistency, Real Madrid plans to file an official complaint with the Spanish refereeing authorities, according to Defensa Central.
Blatant double standards
The sense of injustice is palpable at Valdebebas. The club’s leadership has long criticised inconsistent refereeing, and yesterday’s match at the Metropolitano was a perfect example. Similar situations are officiated differently depending on whether they involve Real Madrid or Barcelona. Koundé’s non-expulsion and the lack of bookings for Barça’s protesting players sharply contrast with the treatment received by Real Madrid’s squad.
Frustrated, Real Madrid’s board, led by Florentino Pérez, is determined to take further action. The Atlético-Barça match will be officially reported as a case of biased officiating. With this complaint, Madrid’s management hopes to push for a review of refereeing criteria and ensure fair treatment for all clubs. At Real, the frustration is turning into a firm determination to set things right.
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