Real Madrid TV has launched an extraordinary attack on the officiating in last night’s 2-1 win at Alaves, claiming the decision not to award Vinicius Jr a penalty was “not a human error.”
The Brazil winger went down under minimal contact from Alaves defender Nahuel Tenaglia late in the game in Vitoria. When he was substituted a minute later, he was seen saying “they don’t whistle because it’s me.”
González Fuertes in the spotlight
The central figure in the incident has history with Madrid. The VAR against Alaves was Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, who criticised Madrid TV’s crusade against the standard of Spanish refereeing prior to last season’s Copa del Rey final in April, along with referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea.
Madrid later pulled out of their obligatory pre-match press conference as the row intensified.
With Gonzalez Fuertes back on VAR duty last night, it seemed inevitable there would be a problem and it surfaced with two minutes to go with the official not instructing on-field referee Victor García Verdura to go to the screen to evaluate his initial call of no foul.
Madrid still won the game 2-1, Vinicius Jr setting up fellow Brazilian Rodrygo to net the clincher after 76 minutes.
Boss Xabi Alonso, who earned a stay of execution thanks to the victory, said he “was not surprised” the incident did not result in a penalty and Madrid failed to offer up any players in the mixed zone in protest.
Madrid TV make wild claims
Madrid TV went one step further, indicating the fact Garcia Verdura is a Catalan, the home of arch-rivals Barcelona, before highlighting the ongoing Negreira case in which Barca are accused of making several payments to companies linked to Jose Mara Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of Spanish football’s refereeing committee (CTA). Barca deny any wrongdoing.
Fran Soto, the current president of the CTA, also came under fire.
Madrid TV claimed: “Fran Soto says that we must forget the Negreira case. This is the dirty Liga Negreira, Madrid competes with their arms tied and must play very well to compete. It’s day after day. It’s incredible.
“What will Fran Soto have thought after so many mistakes? The problem is not the Real Madrid TV videos, that’s a lie. It’s not a matter of intensity, at that speed with any touch you go to the ground. It’s not a human error. This has another name.
“It’s a clear decision: they don’t give it because García Verdura and Gonzáles Fuertes don’t want it. Negreira’s children continue and are concealing the truth.”
The win enabled Madrid to keep pace with La Liga leaders Barcelona, who beat Osasuna on Saturday.
