(foto: Getty Images)
Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has strongly denounced the threats and online abuse directed at Jose Luis Munuera Montero following his officiating in Real Madrid’s controversial 1-1 draw with Osasuna on Saturday.
In a statement published on the RFEF website, the referees' collective expressed its "absolute repulsion" toward the threats affecting both Munuera Montero and his family.
"The professional referees wish to show our absolute repulsion to the attacks and threats that our colleague Jose Luis Munuera Montero is receiving through social networks, which impact him personally as well as his family environment," the CTA stated.
The committee also highlighted the growing hostility referees face every weekend, which, at lower levels of football, often escalates into physical violence.
"These attacks add to the hatred and verbal violence with which we must perform our professional duties every weekend, and in grassroots football, it regrettably turns into physical violence in many cases," the statement added.
The controversy stems from several Real Madrid complaints regarding key decisions in the match at El Sadar. The club was frustrated by VAR’s lack of intervention in moments they deemed controversial, including:
- The red card shown to Jude Bellingham
- Two possible handballs involving Catena and Juan Cruz
- A penalty appeal for a foul on Vinicius Junior
- The decision to allow Osasuna’s goal after Camavinga's challenge on Budimir
Real Madrid described the Camavinga tackle as a "residual action," arguing that contact with Budimir occurred after the striker had already taken his shot.