The expulsion suffered against Real Madrid in the last game of San Mamés, for saying something to a lineman that he says he did not say, prevented him from falling asleep for two consecutive nights. Raúl García (Pamplona, 07-11-1986) gives his version of the events that occurred with Mateu's assistant. The feeling of injustice does not disappear for this player who, after seeing the red in the 13th minute for two yellow cards also against the whites in Valdebebas, admitted that the referee, Gil Manzano, had acted correctly. Now instead …
Two reds this season, both against Madrid …
Two very different reds. One (the first in Valdebebas) obviously deserved, as I said and told the referee at the time, for actions in which I was wrong, in which I did not know how to measure. There is no discussion and in the end I recognized it because I have no problem.
And the second, that of San Mamés for saying something to the lineman, as the arbitration act included?
The second I think a lot of helplessness. It is one of the moments that I have felt the most helplessness in the world of football because, as I say, I am a person who admits my mistakes. I have no problem saying when I'm wrong, because I think it has to be that way. I've been in this for almost 20 years and I've never been expelled for insulting a referee.
And to what do you attribute this expulsion?
I spoke directly to them after the game. I told them what I felt, that I knew I was in a situation where I was not going to be able to defend myself from what I was being accused of. This is not going to change my thinking about them of trust, of knowing that they have a very complicated job, of knowing that they do not do things trying to hurt. Unlike. When they are wrong they are wrong like us and they have all the rights in the world. It is true that this situation, I don't know if due to a misinterpretation of him or why, has been one of the moments in which I have felt the most injustice and the greatest feeling of not being able to defend myself.
They punished him with two games, but they could have been more according to the wording of the minutes. Did you agree with Athletic's appeal?
At the time that the two games came out; my answer was that it seemed unfair to me even to have missed the ten minutes of the game, so I couldn't be happy with the penalty they gave me. I have to accept it and I want to continue trusting them, since they are people like us. Even if I don't understand it, it's a mistake that happened for me and that's it. You have to let it go. I admit when I'm wrong and when I'm not wrong I try to defend myself in any way that I can.
The problem for footballers and coaches is that in the end they have no presumption of innocence. It is his word against that of the referees.
That's what I told them, that in the end it was going to be impossible for me to prove something that I hadn't said. I also understand your position. I do not think that the line at the time wanted to do it to hurt me or to sanction me. For whatever reason, he has interpreted that, something that I still don't understand because I didn't say anything like that. It is not something I can doubt. It is done. I have not wanted to give it more thought, I have not wanted to say anything on my social networks because it seems that I give it more importance than it has; but it is true that I want people to see that the feeling I have had is that of not agreeing with what has happened.
With Mateu, whenever he whistles at Athletic, something happens.
I don't like to think beyond. I trust in the good work of people, it is difficult for me to think that there are people who act with bad faith. I do not go beyond the fact that it happens that he is a referee with whom things are not going well for us, but I think that we are the ones who have to reverse the situation.
Well, in addition to the last one in Elche, the first game of the next league is going to be lost.
It's very clear to me. The moment I knew they were going to sanction me, the first thing I think about is that I can't start a season, that I'm going to miss at least one league game. It is something that makes you angry because you want to start and be with the group from the first moment and for me it is a handicap not being able to count the first game.