Real Madrid’s frustration with La Liga’s officiating standards has reached a boiling point. During Matchday 9 at the Santiago Bernabeu, supporters directed their anger toward the refereeing establishment, league president Javier Tebas, and arch-rivals FC Barcelona.
A prominent banner unfurled in the stands read, “It’s not soccer, it’s Tebas and Negreira,” with the latter name highlighted in Barcelona’s blaugrana colors. The display referenced the ongoing ‘Negreira case,’ which centers on payments made by Barcelona to the former vice president of the refereeing committee. Alongside the banner, the crowd persistently chanted for Tebas’ resignation and criticized Barcelona president Joan Laporta over the historic transactions.
On-Field Controversy Overshadows Commanding Victory
Despite a dominant 4–1 victory over Sevilla, the match was marred by contentious refereeing decisions. In the first half, Arda Guler appeared to catch a Sevilla player in the face with his elbow, yet the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) declined to review the incident for a potential red card. The Turkish midfielder remained on the pitch and went on to score the opening goal.
Online discourse following the match highlighted a broader sentiment: questionable officiating calls have benefited Real Madrid as well, suggesting that refereeing controversies are a league-wide issue rather than one exclusively favoring Barcelona.