Real Madrid has intensified its appeal, formally requesting access to the VAR audio recordings of Mbappé’s penalty kick

This is not the first time the Royal Club has taken such a step; it had previously submitted a similar request in February last year following the infamous tackle by Carlos Romero on Mbappé during the match against Espanyol, an incident that sparked widespread controversy at the time and prompted Real Madrid to lodge a formal complaint with the Referees’ Technical Committee.

The incident in which Mbappé was struck quickly spread across media and social-media channels, with many observers deeming the referee’s decision surprising, especially since the French forward finished the match with a bloodied face.

The official broadcast’s failure to show a replay also drew criticism from Real Madrid’s hierarchy, who labelled the omission “unworthy of a competition that is supposed to be one of the most professional in the world”.

Sources close to club president Florentino Pérez confirm that the latest incident has deepened Real Madrid’s conviction that Spanish refereeing is mismanaged. The Madrid press has labelled this a “pattern of mistakes against Real Madrid”.

The club’s hierarchy now questions the integrity of the competition overseen by La Liga president Javier Tebas, especially at this crucial stage of the season.

Despite their frustration with refereeing decisions, Real Madrid officials acknowledge that the crisis goes beyond officiating. The team’s domestic campaign is struggling, nine points adrift of Barcelona with seven matches left, making the league title all but out of reach.

As a result, the club is conducting a technical and mental review of the squad while channelling its remaining energy into the Champions League, now seen as the last chance to rescue the campaign.

Madrid fans have voiced dissatisfaction with the team’s poor results, sensing a familiar pattern of relying on European success to paper over domestic shortcomings.

The fact that Real Madrid has not won La Liga in back-to-back campaigns since 2008 is a worrying trend for its supporters, who are now demanding radical changes at the end of the current season.