More Real Madrid referee drama! President of officials’ committee reported for allegedly manipulating VAR images to ‘harm’ Los Blancos

Los Blancos have, in the eyes of some, been the beneficiary of certain refereeing decisions this season. Barcelona president Joan Laporta and manager Xavi have been two vocal opponents to their perceived advantage, while a former police commissioner accused president Florentino Perez of bribery back in October. However, recent information from El Debate suggests that the Madrid club may have been on the wrong side of corruption this term through deliberately altered VAR images.

Per the Spanish outlet, president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) Cantalejo has been reported for tampering with evidence during matches featuring Los Blancos. It is alleged that the CTA use a separate "operating room" separate to the VAR chamber, which goes against official protocols. Instructions from said room have allegedly been accompanied by frames that don't properly show the incident in question, in order to alter the referee's view. This would be a breach of La Liga regulations, which state that VAR officials must only be in contact with the on-field referee.

It is not only Cantalejo that stands accused. Referees Clos Gomez and Jaime Latre have also been mentioned as important figures. Other officials implicated in the case include Ricardo de Burgos, Guillermo Cuadra, Cesar Soto, Alejandro Muniz, Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, Juan Luis Pulido Santana, David Medie and Ignacio Iglesias. Some of those referees have also been involved in the ongoing Negreira scandal involving Real's rivals Barcelona.

It remains to be seen what further action will be taken and when that may take place. For Carlo Ancelotti and Co., it will be a welcome change of narrative from his club's perceived stronghold over officials. The Italian was recently drawn into a war of words with Xavi over such accusations.