If you managed to turn around a game with a 2-1 victory, would you be happy? Yet, after winning against Valencia, Real Madrid was so furious that they metaphorically overturned the referee's "table" post-match. In the 19th round of La Liga on January 4, 2023, Real Madrid should have been the winner at the Mestalla Stadium. However, the focus shifted to the controversial refereeing decisions: a questionable goal, an ambiguous penalty, and a disheartening red card. Is it the referees' incompetence or is Real Madrid too sensitive? If this issue remains unresolved, the reputation of La Liga referees might only continue to deteriorate.
Let's start with the first point of contention: Valencia scored their first goal in the 16th minute of the match. At the time, everyone was caught up in the joy of the goal, but many Real Madrid fans raised their hands shouting "something's not right"! Looking at the slow-motion replay, it is evident that Valencia players did indeed have a suspicious foul before scoring, yet the referee made no indication. We will not delve into whether the referee should have blown the whistle or not, but from this ignored foul, Valencia seemed to benefit covertly, while Real Madrid's nerves were gradually tightened.
The turning point occurred in the second half. When the game reached the 62nd minute, Real Madrid earned a penalty kick, and everyone held their breath watching the ball. Karim Benzema, the leader of Real Madrid, stood at the 12-yard line, but he missed! Some attentive fans may recall that Valencia's goalkeeper appeared to move early during the save attempt, which is a violation according to the rules. Benzema missing is a fact, but the referee choosing to ignore the goalkeeper's action is also unconvincing. Listen to some football experts; the goalkeeper moving early is indeed a subtle foul, and referees often overlook such details—this casts a shadow over the authority of the rules.
But the controversies do not end there; the "climax" came later in the game. Real Madrid player Vinicius received a red card for his retaliatory actions, pushing an opponent to the ground, which drew an immediate red card from the referee. However, what is strange is that Valencia's goalkeeper's provocative actions did not attract the referee's attention. Many people at the scene thought Vinicius had lost control of his emotions and got himself into trouble, but the replay showed the goalkeeper's minor actions, causing people to gasp. No matter how you look at it, the handling of one side being punished while the other is ignored always shrouds the match in an indescribable shadow.
Speaking of this, we must mention the long-standing feud between Real Madrid and Valencia. Their enmity did not start today; this match was just a continuation of the "warfare." Do you remember the 2002 Champions League group stage? That was the most memorable encounter between the two teams. In that match, Valencia players' "acting class" directly led to Real Madrid's hero Raul receiving a red card. After the game, Real Madrid accused the referee of being deceived by diving, but Valencia advanced with a smile. Looking back more than 20 years later, the refereeing issues in this match seem like a replay of history.
Now let's zoom in on Vinicius, the most active "troublemaker" on the field for Real Madrid. How many times has he been at the center of controversy whenever there is a dispute? Although Vinicius is beyond reproach in terms of his football skills, his fiery temper has caused him much trouble on the field.
This red card, similar to the one in this match, is not the first time he has been involved in controversy. More sadly, just recently in a match against Atletico Madrid, he became part of an off-field controversy due to racial slurs from opposing fans. In such an environment, every move of Vinicius magnifies his identity. Is he a problematic figure on the field, or is he a targeted focus? Perhaps even he himself cannot say for sure.
In fact, the controversy surrounding La Liga referees is not a new story. From Real Madrid to Barcelona, including teams like Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla, they have all complained about "unfair refereeing" in a state of turmoil. There is no exaggeration in the evidence. Once upon a time, Barcelona and Sevilla's match also suffered defeat due to incorrect penalty decisions. Such situations make people question whether La Liga referees have a unified standard at all.
More alarmingly, this series of problems lowers the sense of fairness throughout the league. Comparing La Liga referees with those in the Premier League, you will find that the precision and transparency of the Premier League's refereeing are more standardized. Premier League referees, from training to execution, have always tried to avoid major mistakes, and the introduction of VAR has significantly reduced the possibility of controversy. But what about La Liga? Despite introducing video referees as well, it always gives off the feeling of "holding a weapon without knowing how to use it." To some extent, this impression of referees being "naive and rustic" has become a significant demerit for La Liga in the international arena.
Real Madrid's dissatisfaction with the referees escalated into a public "roar" after the match. Their official TV channel directly fired back, seemingly wanting to vent everything that had been bottled up inside. From complaining about the referees to questioning the fairness of the league, the emotional words sparked a series of heated discussions in the media. Official statements are a reasonable way to protest, but to some extent, Real Madrid's anger this time seems to have a bit more of a post-match emotional outburst. It's like losing your mood but winning the game, which always feels a bit awkward.
If refereeing controversies can directly ruin a match that should be illuminated by competitive brilliance, then the underlying issues are probably more complex than we think. This time, Real Madrid cried foul, but who will it be next time? The football world seeks fairness, but there are always too many realities that leave us with nothing but a sigh.
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