CTA president slams Real Madrid over Espanyol controvery – ‘We may be very clumsy, but we are not corrupt’ | OneFootball

The ongoing controversy surrounding Carlos Romero’s tackle on Kylian Mbappe in the recent Espanyol-Real Madrid match continues to make waves, sparking intense debates and complaints, including a formal letter from Real Madrid itself.

The incident has left many questioning the decisions made by the officials, and in response to the situation, Luis Medina Cantalejo, president of the Technical Committee of Referees, has spoken out.

Medina Cantalejo addressed the formal statement issued by Real Madrid, clarifying that the referee committee does not engage in dialogue with teams regarding their official decisions.

“We do not enter into dialogue with teams. Whenever it has been done with respect, we open our doors. I do not want to be someone who adds fuel to the fire,” he said as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

He also expressed disagreement with the claims made by Real Madrid, emphasizing that he had not personally witnessed anything that would justify the club’s stance.

“I do not agree with what Real Madrid says. I have not experienced that. Because someone, who has to be the subject of a judicial resolution, has committed a crime, the rest of the generations before and after are not to blame for that.”

Defending the officials

Medina Cantalejo pressed that the officials are not corrupt. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Cantalejo went on to stress that neither he nor his colleagues within the committee have anything to be ashamed of.

He firmly rejected any accusations of corruption, stating that while they may sometimes make mistakes or poor decisions, they are not corrupt.

“I have nothing to be ashamed of. Neither I nor my colleagues are corrupt. We may be very clumsy, very bad, but I assure you we are not corrupt.”

He explained that it’s a tough job with immense pressure, but it’s something they must face daily as the competition moves forward. The challenges are significant, but the team remains dedicated to their roles.

“It’s another thing that I have to go out and work every day with what falls on us, because we have no other choice, the competition continues. There is no human being who can handle it well.”

Speaking on the incident

Medina Cantalejo reflected on the Mbappe incident. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

When addressing Romero’s tackle on Mbappe, Cantalejo made it clear that such incidents are clear-cut in football. He stated that both the on-field referee and the VAR team should have easily identified the situation.

“What everyone in football sees, the referee on the field and VAR cannot fail to see. We have to protect the players.”

Protecting the players is of utmost importance, and there should be no ambiguity in such decisions. He acknowledged that when the decision is obvious, yet the referee makes a different call, it becomes impossible to justify such a choice.

“It is very clear what happened. When I see something that is black or white and the obvious decision is white and the referee opts for black, I cannot give you an argument or an explanation for those decisions,” he concluded.