Complaints against arbitrations

Complaints against referees have always existed, but in recent weeks they have increased through official club media. Some have even led to undesirable situations, such as death threats on social networks to Medina Cantalejo, president of the arbitration group. Penalties and VAR are the main complaints. The clubs demand that the braids unify their criteria, while they demand greater respect for their work.

Medina has been in office for two months and the protests have accumulated. And that his initial speech was in correlation to what players and coaches demanded. Less VAR and more football. And he is getting it. In their fight against penalties, the maximum penalties have been reduced: It has passed from one every 2.75 games to one every four. Although more notable is the drop in the use of VAR: with Velasco there were 51 interventions, in the two months of Medina only 19. The average intervention has gone from once every 2.86 games to once every 4.4. Last season at this point the VAR entered 24 more actions.

Despite the changes, the criticism continues. Valencia was one of the first to do so: “The robberies in Madrid are beginning to be repetitive.” Betis followed: “The role of the referees is to impart justice, not the ignominy we have experienced today.” And this weekend Vizcaíno, president of Cádiz, has joined, sending a letter to Rubiales, president of the Federation: “For the second time, and I ask you please, fix the VAR issue. We have returned to our old ways and has done against Cádiz again. Fix the VAR issue urgently so as not to be the laughing stock of a football that is supposed to be elite”.

Iturralde Gonzalez, former international referee, gives his opinion: “It happens every year. When they see that their initial goals get difficult, they use the arbitration wild card. I have yet to hear any club say they have points they don’t deserve. They do not want justice, because then they would also denounce when they are favored, they only want benefit”. And he claims: “We have a tool that is very good but it is covered by the protocol. VAR came to help football.”