Controversy has once again surrounded Spanish football after the Madrid Football Federation (RFFM), the regional federation affiliated with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), published comments from referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias that were made before the start of the season. The remarks come amid growing tension following the recent Madrid derby and Real Madrid’s criticism of refereeing decisions.
Madrid Football Federation Sparks Controversy After Real Madrid Derby
Madrid’s football governing body sparked controversy with posts following the Atlético de Madrid vs. Real Madrid clash in LaLiga Matchday 7.
The publication was widely interpreted in Spain as an indirect message aimed at Real Madrid, although the federation did not explicitly name the club. The statement has reignited the debate over the pressure faced by referees and the increasingly tense atmosphere surrounding professional football in Spain.
THE POST THAT SPARKED CONTROVERSY
Spain's football governing body shared excerpts from an interview in which Ortiz Arias discussed the treatment referees receive after matches. The official argued that, in certain situations, clubs can make referees the main target of criticism following a defeat.
The statements resurfaced after the Madrid derby between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid, a match that generated controversy over several refereeing decisions. Among them were appeals for possible red cards involving Kang In Lee and Cristian Romero.
WHAT THE CONTROVERSIAL VIDEO SAID
The referee defended the work of match officials, arguing that referees aim to make the correct decisions and comparing their role with other professions governed by established rules. He also questioned why refereeing mistakes often receive different treatment from errors made by football players.
Ortiz Arias, who has officiated in Spain's top division since 2021, also said that the environment surrounding Spanish refereeing has become particularly difficult in recent years.
His comments gained additional significance because of the aftermath of the derby, when Real Madrid publicly expressed its disagreement with several decisions made during the match.
THE NEGREIRA CASE ADDS TO THE TENSION
During the interview, Ortiz Arias also addressed the Negreira case and its impact, in his view, on the reputation of Spanish refereeing. The referee called for a distinction between the individual actions under investigation and the wider group of officials currently working in Spanish football.
The controversy, therefore, goes beyond the decisions made during the Madrid derby. The publication of Ortiz Arias' comments has once again fueled discussion about the relationship between the RFFM, Spanish referees and Real Madrid, as criticism of officiating remains a major talking point in Spanish football.
