The recent incident involving Real Madrid accusing a referee of negligence has sparked controversy within the world of Spanish football. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has come forward with a statement offering its “total and unconditional support” to the referee in question, Juan Martinez Munuera. This support comes after Real Madrid filed a formal complaint against Martinez Munuera for failing to report insulting chants aimed at Vinícius Júnior during a match against Osasuna.
According to Real Madrid, the referee omitted chants from the crowd of “Vinícius, die” from his official match report, despite being made aware of the chants by Madrid players during the game. The club accused Martinez Munuera of intentionally leaving out the insults and humiliating chants directed at Vinícius Júnior. However, the RFEF’s Technical Committee of Referees refuted these claims, stating that after reviewing the match audios, no indication from any Real Madrid player regarding the chants could be heard.
The RFEF explained that the referee can only include in his report incidents that occur before, during, and after the match on the field of play. It is also mentioned that the official match reporter, who is part of the Technical Committee of Referees, did include significant crowd incidents in his report, which are then sent to the disciplinary body of the RFEF. This process has been in place for several seasons and aims to ensure transparency and accountability in reporting such incidents.
Osasuna also released a statement denying that any racist chanting occurred during the match and condemned the insults made by a minority of fans. Real Madrid has reported similar incidents of offensive chants aimed at Vinícius Júnior before matches against other clubs, including Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. These reports have been forwarded to hate crime prosecutors for further investigation.
While the accusations made by Real Madrid against the referee have stirred up controversy, the response from the RFEF and Osasuna indicates a different perspective on the matter. It is essential to investigate such incidents thoroughly and ensure that all parties involved are held accountable for their actions. The integrity of the game and the well-being of the players should always be the top priority in football.