Another chapter in Real Madrid’s questionable history of refereeing decisions was written last night after a shameful refereeing display saw Osasuna controversially lose 3-1 in the Bernabeu which must beg the debate as to whether football fans are naive NOT to think match-fixing is carried out by the current Champions.
Two clear cut penalties on Osasuna’s Juanfran, instead of being awarded, were deemed as dives by referee Perez Burrull who handed the winger a yellow, then red card, leading to the player exiting the field in tears.
Real Madrid have had a history of dodgy dealings since the days when General Franco would change Spanish law to take Alfredo di Stefano from Barcelona to the capital and warn opponents that ‘they know what will happen to them if they win’ against Madrid.
As Sir Alex Ferguson recently said “I read about Calderon making the great statement that slavery was abolished many, many years ago. Well, did they tell Franco that?”
Awful refereeing against Real Madrid’s opponents, especially at the Bernabeu, are becoming all too much a common occurrence this season. Terrible officiating saw Madrid win 4-3 against Malaga in November, when they received two horrendous penalty decisions. The first was given for hand ball well outside the box to make it 2-2, then an absolutely shocking decision when Higuain was nowhere near the ball and received no contact from Calleja before diving to the floor.
With ‘top’ Spanish referees like Mejuto Gonzalez and Medina Cantalejo being confessed Real Madrid fans in addition to countless horrific decisions in favour of the Madristas this season like Perez Burrull tonight, really makes one think if it is really Barcelona that are unstoppable…