In the aftermath of Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Real Betis, several post-match reactions and club statements added further context to the night’s events.
Diego Llorente addressed Álvaro Arbeloa’s complaints about the referee, acknowledging the broader nature of such reactions:
“I’m surprised, but to a degree. Everyone fights for their goals and claims what they believe is right. For us, there was also a play by Brahim that could have been a handball. Everyone has the right to complain.”
Llorente also reflected on the match itself, highlighting Betis’ performance after the opening stages:
“They’re a team that seems out of sorts, but they have players who can counter-attack very quickly. After the first 20 minutes, we were very focused. We created chance after chance. Lunin made a lot of saves. It was only fair that we scored a goal. At halftime, we said that was the way forward. The substitutions were positive. At this stage, any point against top teams is valuable.”
Héctor Bellerín echoed similar sentiments regarding refereeing decisions:
“Well, we complained about Brahim’s handball. That’s football. Sometimes fair, sometimes unfair. After all the chances we had, when I saw the referee hesitating in the final seconds, I thought, ‘They can’t disallow this goal now.’ If you’re going to call that foul, you’ll call that handball too. Justice was served in that respect. I understand the referees; it’s difficult to get it right in every situation.”
Real Madrid TV issued strong criticism of the refereeing, particularly focusing on the CTA (Technical Committee of Referees) and its members.
The club’s channel questioned the presence of Gregorio Manzano within the refereeing structure:
They specifically named Fran Soto, Teixeira Vitienes, and Gregorio Manzano, referencing Soto’s stance on the Negreira case, Vitienes’ historical record involving Real Madrid, and Manzano’s past as Atlético Madrid manager.
“Gregorio Manzano is being imposed by LaLiga. Among several top-flight managers, he held the Atlético Madrid job in two separate spells: the first in 2003 and the second in 2011. He was dismissed while in eleventh place. After losing a derby 4-1, he expressed himself thus in a press conference: ‘Something always happens, right? Something always happens in Real Madrid’s favor at certain times. This is the first time a coach has been part of the CTA, which is responsible for referee appointments, and LaLiga imposes Gregorio Manzano, a former Atlético Madrid manager.’”
Real Madrid TV also opened its broadcast with broader criticism of officiating in La Liga:
“Not a single La Liga matchday goes by without having to talk about the referees. Not a single La Liga matchday goes by without a refereeing error that seriously harms Real Madrid’s interests.”
The club highlighted a first-half incident involving a potential handball by Ricardo Rodríguez:
“Minute 22. Brahim tries to control the ball, attempts a shot, and the ball clearly hits Ricardo Rodríguez’s hand. Soto Grado decides not to call anything, claiming the play is invalid due to offside. We can watch it repeatedly on a loop, and you’ll see there’s no offside whatsoever. It’s a clear handball. A penalty should have been awarded.”
They also referenced the role of VAR official González Fuertes:
“The VAR official was González Fuertes, the same referee who, exactly one year ago, threatened Real Madrid in the pre-Copa del Rey final press conference.”
Real Madrid TV emphasized the speed of the VAR review:
“Only 12 seconds pass from when Soto Grado blows his whistle for a handball and signals for play to resume. In those 12 seconds, González Fuertes, from the VAR booth, has been able to verify whether it was a handball and whether it was a handball or not.”
They further argued that officiating criteria were not properly applied: