Madrid Universal
·3 February 2025
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Yahoo sportsMadrid Universal
·3 February 2025
The referees were once again at the receiving end of controversy during Real Madrid’s most recent defeat to Espanyol this past weekend.
The controversy happened around the hour mark when Espanyol defender Carlos Romero produced a lounging tackle on Kylian Mbappe, who was on the move.
It was a poor challenge that could have ended badly for Mbappe, who was able to continue and finish the game.
Real Madrid coaches, though, were far from impressed by the tackle and demanded the referee to directly send off Romero.
As revealed by the DAZN cameras, Carlo Ancelotti and his son Davide Ancelotti were furious at the challenge and immediately complained to the fourth referee.
It was followed by Carlo Ancelotti telling Lucas Vazquez to go and tell the referee that Romero deserves a red card.
However, the referee was having none of it and opted to hand a booking to the Espanyol player – a move that made the Real Madrid camp even more furious.
After the game, Real Madrid did not even hesitate in calling the poor refereeing decision as a ‘worldwide scandal’. The club also launched an open attack on the referee, the VAR and the president of the refeeres association through RMTV.
Thankfully for the club, Mbappe was able to leave the incident unscathed and has not picked up any fresh injury.
The forward is likely to be available as Real Madrid take on Leganes on Wednesday, a game where David Alaba could be poised to make his first start after returning from injury.