Real Madrid TV questions refereeing standards after Vinicius Junior red card

Real Madrid TV has launched a fierce criticism of Spanish refereeing after Vinicius Junior was sent off during the club’s 1-0 victory over Villarreal, claiming that the same standards are not being applied to every team.

Vinicius had a second goal ruled out after the referee judged that the Brazilian had pulled the hair of Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba. He was then shown a red card.

The incident was used by Real Madrid’s official television channel to compare the decision with previous refereeing controversies highlighted by Spanish newspaper AS, including incidents during the Madrid derby between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

Real Madrid TV argued that similar challenges in that match had not resulted in red cards.

“Once again, the images speak for themselves. It is the Negreira League; it is back,” the channel said after the Villarreal match. “In the derby, Atletico Madrid were helped, and today it happened again. This is the context surrounding this disgrace.”

The channel also referred to challenges by Lee Kang-in on Federico Valverde and Cristian Romero on Jude Bellingham, saying neither incident led to a sending-off despite its view that both deserved the same punishment.

“This is the difference when referees officiate Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. Everything is becoming clear again,” it added. “Romero’s challenge was violent and nothing happened. He even played today and scored the winning goal.”

Real Madrid TV then questioned whether the competition was being manipulated or affected by corruption, saying: “Is there manipulation of the competition? Is there corruption in the competition? The answer is clear.”

The channel accused referees of applying different standards to different clubs, also citing the 45-minute absence of video assistant referee technology during Barcelona’s match against Rayo Vallecano last season. That game ended in a draw.

“Manipulation happens when the rules are not applied in the same way to both teams,” it said. “The standards and laws are different, and not everyone is subject to the same rules.”

It added: “If Lamine Yamal had done it, the goal would not have been disallowed.”

The criticism continued after the final whistle, with one analyst focusing again on Vinicius’ dismissal.

“I am completely convinced that if Lamine Yamal had made that move, the goal would not have been disallowed,” the analyst said.

The channel also claimed that supporters at the Santiago Bernabeu had chanted “corruption at the federation”. It said every incident involving Real Madrid was examined in detail, and that officials raised the flag whenever there was doubt, leaving the player to take responsibility.

Real Madrid TV further criticised the failure of VAR to intervene in other incidents from previous matches and called for the regulations to be applied consistently to all teams.

It also criticised derby referee Ortiz Arias over a smile during an exchange with Valverde, describing the action as “shameful, humiliating and extremely dangerous”.

Antonio Rudiger’s yellow card against Villarreal was also questioned, with the channel saying the refereeing decisions had contributed to the anger among the supporters.

Real Madrid TV concluded by saying the club’s fans wanted the rules to be applied equally, while repeating its claims that refereeing controversy had become a recurring feature of the team’s matches and alleging corruption within Spanish refereeing.