Disciplinary proceedings set to be opened against Real Madrid for corruption letter as war against La Liga referees rages on

The Spanish giants sent a strongly worded letter to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) following their 1-0 defeat to Espanyol, expressing frustration over officiating decisions. Their grievances stemmed from a controversial moment during the match, where Espanyol's Carlos Romero avoided a red card despite a reckless challenge on Kylian Mbappé. Madrid, who dominated possession and committed just three fouls compared to Espanyol’s 14, saw their opponents receive only two yellow cards throughout the game. Eventually, a late goal from Romero sealed Madrid’s defeat, further fuelling their dissatisfaction.

While several La Liga clubs, including Real Sociedad and Alavés, have voiced discontent over officiating standards in the past, Madrid’s complaint took a more serious turn. Unlike routine criticisms of negligence or inconsistency, Los Blancos went a step further by alleging that referees were actively manipulating matches against them. This direct attack on the integrity of the refereeing system has drawn sharp criticism from La Liga authorities, escalating tensions between the club and league officials.

La Liga president Javier Tebas was quick to respond, mocking Real Madrid for their outburst. He labelled them a "crying club" and took a jab at club president Florentino Pérez, describing his leadership as "oligarchic." He had previously warned that any official accusations of corruption would not go unpunished. In line with that stance, La Liga submitted a formal complaint against Madrid two weeks ago, prompting further action from the league’s governing bodies.

According to reports from Cadena Cope, the Disciplinary Committee is now preparing to launch an investigation into Madrid’s allegations. The committee will have a timeframe of six weeks to two months to assess the claims and determine whether any punitive measures should be imposed. If the committee concludes that disciplinary action is warranted, they will recommend appropriate sanctions, which could range from fines to potential actions against Madrid’s board members who were involved in drafting the letter.

Despite their off-field frustrations, Madrid must now shift their focus back to football as they prepare to face Real Sociedad in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday.