Clasico referee appointment sparks controversy at Real Madrid

The appointment of the referee for the upcoming Clasico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid is causing controversy, particularly on the Madrid club's side, according to several media outlets.

Le stade Bernabéu, à Madrid

Photo: Ian Dick from Glasgow, UK — CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (new window)

The appointment of the referee for the upcoming Clasico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid has sparked controversy, particularly on the Madrid side. According to several media outlets, including L'Équipe and RMC Sport, the referee's appointment is already a subject of debate in Spain, and Real Madrid have reportedly expressed their displeasure.

A referee who brings no luck to Real Madrid

According to Placar, the referee appointed for this match is Alejandro Hernández Hernández. The Brazilian outlet reports that the Merengue club have won only one match with this referee in charge. This statistic would partly explain Real Madrid's anger, as they view this appointment for the top-of-the-table clash in the Spanish championship with a jaundiced eye.

Accusations of bias

TuttoMercatoWeb goes further, mentioning accusations coming from Madrid. The Italian outlet reports that voices are being raised to claim that the referee "tifa per il Barcellona," that is, he supports FC Barcelona. This accusation of bias fuels the controversy, in an already tense context between the two clubs, marked by "vicende giudiziarie" (legal affairs) and the relocation of headquarters, as TuttoMercatoWeb points out.

A rivalry that goes beyond the pitch

The historic rivalry between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona thus extends beyond the pitch. The recent tensions, mentioned by TuttoMercatoWeb, concern legal affairs and issues of registered offices, making the atmosphere particularly electric ahead of this clash. The controversy surrounding the referee is just the latest episode in this opposition.

The meeting between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid is therefore set to be highly charged, with a referee whose appointment is not unanimous, particularly on the Madrid side.

Sources

  1. L’ÉquipePourquoi le choix du prochain arbitre du Clasico fait polémique au Real Madrid (new window)lequipe.fr
  2. RMC SportLiga: on connaît l'arbitre du prochain Barça-Real Madrid (et ça fait déjà débat en Espagne) (new window)rmcsport.bfmtv.com
  3. PlacarÉl Clássico: árbitro escolhido causa revolta no Real Madrid (new window)placar.com
  4. TuttoMercatoWebÈ già polemica per l'arbitro scelto per il Clasico. Da Madrid tuonano: tifa per il Barcellona (new window)tuttomercatoweb.com