La Liga: Spanish Officials Respond to Online Hate Against Referee After Osasuna vs. Real Madrid Match
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Synopsis
On February 18, Spain's referees issued a statement following death threats against Jose Luis Munuera after his officiating in Real Madrid's 1-1 draw with Osasuna. The threats have raised concerns about referee safety and professional integrity in football.
Key Takeaways
- Referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero received threats after the Osasuna vs. Real Madrid match.
- The CTA condemned the online harassment aimed at Munuera.
- Bellingham was sent off for alleged offensive language.
- Incidents of referee abuse highlight ongoing issues in Spanish football.
- Real Madrid's criticisms of officiating practices contribute to the hostile environment.
Madrid (Spain), Feb 18 (NationPress) - The professional referees in Spain have been compelled to release a statement following a series of death threats directed at Jose Luis Munuera Montero due to his officiating decisions during Real Madrid's 1-1 draw against Osasuna last Saturday.
During the match, Munuera issued a red card to Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham in the first half for allegedly using offensive language. Later, he awarded a penalty to Osasuna after Eduardo Camavinga fouled Ante Budimir, allowing Budimir to equalize from the spot, as reported by Xinhua.
Following these incidents, Munuera was forced to deactivate his social media profiles after enduring a barrage of abusive messages, including threats such as "You should be scared for your children" and "If we see you in the street, we'll leave you crippled".
In light of these threats, the Referee's Technical Committee (CTA) released a statement expressing their strong disapproval of the hostility and threats directed towards Munuera, which are impacting him and his family.
The CTA emphasized that these threats contribute to the ongoing culture of hatred and verbal abuse that officials face weekly, with lower leagues often experiencing even more severe physical violence. Additionally, they criticized Real Madrid's club TV network, RMTV, for regularly broadcasting content that undermines referees and suggests a conspiracy against the club.
Munuera sent off Bellingham for his use of the 'f-word', with Real Madrid arguing that he was merely expressing frustration with himself. The club contends that Bellingham's actual words were "f-off", not a direct insult to the referee.
As the season progresses, Bellingham's visible frustration and complaints toward officials have become more pronounced, indicating a need for greater self-control on the pitch.
