Real Madrid protest over disparity in red cards, highlight incidents involving Barcelona, Atletico stars | OneFootball

Real Madrid are once again protesting what they view as unfair refereeing decisions, pointing to what they considers inconsistent criteria when compared with Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, reports MARCA.

Real Madrid have been at loggerheads with the refereeing system in Spain since last season and things have escalated this term after the red card shown to Dean Huijsen against Real Sociedad earlier this month – which was deemed unfair.

Now, in a video released by Real Madrid TV, the Merengues criticised how referees have handled expulsions over the first six matchdays.

RMTV pointed out that while one of Real Madrid’s players has already been unjustly sent off, Barcelona’s Raphinha has escaped dismissal on two occasions, and Atletico captain Koke avoided punishment for an act of aggression against Rayo Vallecano.

Huijsen vs Raphinha

Real Madrid cited the dismissal of Huijsen at Anoeta where referee Gil Manzano showed him a straight red card, despite the defender not being the last man and the challenge not constituting a clear goal-scoring opportunity, with VAR not even intervening.

It must be noted that the Referees’ Technical Committee (CTA) later admitted the decision was an error.

Raphinha avoided a second yellow vs Getafe. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

By contrast, Real Madrid pointed out that Barcelona’s Raphinha escaped expulsion twice this season: once for a dangerous challenge against a Mallorca player, and again when he avoided a second yellow after shoving a Getafe opponent off the ball.

Vinicius vs Koke

Ahead of the Madrid derby this weekend, Los Blancos also drew comparisons between Koke’s treatment in the recent Atletico vs Rayo fixture and Vinicius Jr.’s red card at Mestalla last season.

Koke grabbed the Rayo goalkeeper by the neck and threw him to the ground, yet neither the referee nor VAR deemed it worthy of a sending-off.

Real Madrid TV contrasted this with Vinícius’ dismissal in Valencia, where VAR intervened to punish the Brazilian without showing the provocation he had suffered from the goalkeeper.

As has already been reported, Real Madrid are sending a report to FIFA about the state of refereeing in La Liga, and it will be interesting to see how things pan out.