The debate as to whether Real Madrid are disadvantaged by the referees in Spain has been given fresh impetus. The referee is at the center of the debate following the champions' draw at CA Osasuna.
Real Madrid's red card for Jude Bellingham for an obvious insult to the referee was one of the reasons for their failure to win the Spanish title. The record champions had to settle for a 1:1 (1:0) draw in their away game at CA Osasuna. City rivals Atlético Madrid could move past Real into first place with a win against Celta Vigo on Saturday evening.
Real were already on course for victory after star striker Kylian Mbappé's opening goal after a quarter of an hour, before Bellingham apparently lost his nerve. The Englishman appeared to disagree with a refereeing decision and told José Luis Munuera. He suddenly produced the red card and sent the midfield star off in the 39th minute. What words were spoken remained unclear at first.
Spicy history of Real and the referees
To Real's annoyance, Osasuna equalized through a controversial penalty by Ante Budimir (58th minute). The video referee had intervened after Eduardo Camavinga stepped on the foot of Budimir's subsequent equalizer as he attempted to clear the ball. Real coach Carlo Ancelotti slapped both hands to his face on the touchline.
Incidentally, Real had recently criticized the refereeing system in Spain massively and publicly. After the 1-0 defeat at Espanyol Barcelona, the Whites wrote a four-page letter of protest to the Spanish Football Association and published it on their website.
The performance of the refereeing team, including the VAR, was "scandalous". It was "the culmination of a completely discredited refereeing system whose decisions against Real Madrid have reached a point where the distortion and manipulation of the competition can no longer be ignored", Real complained.
The club's management had "lost their minds", said Liga president Javier Tebas in response, according to the AP news agency. Tebas also revealed that the league was considering legal action over the letter.
The live ticker
CA Osasuna
Real Madrid
- Ante Budimir - 1:1 (58.)
- (15.) 0:1 - Kylian Mbappé
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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58.
Budimir scores the equalizer for Osasuna
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39.
Referee insult? Real star Bellingham sent off
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15.
Mbappé gives Real an early lead
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90.+6.End of 2nd half
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86.Substitution in CA Osasuna
Raúl García
Striker
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86.Substitution out CA Osasuna
Ante Budimir
Striker
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79.Substitution in CA Osasuna
Iker Muñoz
Midfielder
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79.Substitution out CA Osasuna
Jon Moncayola
Midfielder
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79.Substitution in CA Osasuna
Moi Gómez
Midfielder
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79.Substitution out CA Osasuna
Bryan Zaragoza
Striker
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73.Yellow card CA Osasuna
Aimar Oroz
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69.Substitution in Real Madrid
Rodrygo
Striker
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69.Substitution out Real Madrid
Brahim Díaz
Striker
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59.Substitution in CA Osasuna
Rubén Peña
Defender
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59.Substitution out CA Osasuna
Jesús Areso Blanco
Defender
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59.Substitution in CA Osasuna
Abel Bretones
Defender
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59.Substitution out CA Osasuna
Juan Cruz
Defender
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58.Goal for CA Osasuna, 1:1 through penalties from Ante Budimir
Ante Budimir
Striker
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57.Yellow card Real Madrid
Eduardo Camavinga
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52.Yellow card CA Osasuna
Juan Cruz
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48.Yellow card CA Osasuna
Jesús Areso Blanco
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46.Kick-off 2nd half
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45.+3.End of 1st half
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40.Red card Real Madrid (direct)
Jude Bellingham
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15.Goal for Real Madrid, 0:1 through Kylian Mbappé (Federico Valverde)
Kylian Mbappé
Striker
Assist: Federico Valverde
Defender
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1.Start of the match
