'We would not consent to it' - La Liga president Javier Tebas weighs in on investigation into referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero after sending off Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham

The Real Madrid midfielder was shown a straight red card in the first half of a 1-1 draw, with Munuera Montero alleging that Bellingham directed an insulting expletive at him. However, the Englishman has denied using offensive language, leading to extensive controversy over the incident.

Beyond the red card controversy, Munuera Montero is now being investigated by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) over a potential conflict of interest. Reports suggest that he is linked to a company, Talentus Sports, which provides services to various organizations, including La Liga itself. While the referee has denied any misconduct, the ongoing probe has resulted in him being frozen from referring duties in Spain and Europe.

Addressing the matter at an event on Wednesday, Tebas clarified his stance on the issue and said: "It is not Munuera’s company, but the company of a partner of his that provides services to La Liga. But Munuera is not providing services to La Liga because we would not consent to it. I am not very happy that someone who provides services to La Liga has a partnership with a referee, but that does not imply anything else. I want to insist that Munuera is not providing services to La Liga or UEFA or anything. We are investigating and I think what the Federation has done is very good and it is what needs to be done. Let’s see how everything is.”

The fallout from Munuera Montero’s decision to send off Bellingham has extended beyond the investigation. The referee has reportedly received death threats in the days following the match, with his family members also being targeted by angry fans. While Tebas has downplayed any direct wrongdoing on the referee’s part, the case has already sparked intense discussions over refereeing standards and professional ethics within Spanish football. For now, Munuera Montero will remain sidelined as La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation work to determine whether his connections to Talentus Sports pose a legitimate conflict of interest.