Every week I sit down to discuss the weekend’s events in La Liga and every week I encourage myself to be drawn into the latest controversy. And, believe me, there is a debate every week. I find it disturbing and annoying about the culture wars over the news media. My problem is that there is enough material to make it difficult to swim at all.
This week I can hear claims that one of Madrid’s original goals at Elche should have been disallowed. Did the ball brush Jude Bellingham’s arm before their first equalizer? Maybe. But it wasn’t intentional and he wasn’t the one who hit the target, so today’s discretionary rule doesn’t apply. For the second goal, did Vinicius head Inaki Pena before the ball went away? It’s possible, but suffice it to say that it was an accidental collision of two players who want old school football like myself.
Now, if you are absolutely convinced that there is a conspiracy to put Spanish Football in Real Madrid’s Favelid then it all goes to your evidence files. Let’s face it, the anti-conspiracy case was not heard by the President of La Liga who publicly urged us to show how he contributed to the fan of real madrid. See what I’m saying so it’s hard not to get pulled?
https://twitter.com/Tebasjavier/status/1992655449196491068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
And experienced viewers will know where this column should turn now: Yes, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, former Vice President of the Technical Committee of Reneres’. I have not seen a suitable explanation for the €8.4m paid by FC Barcelona to companies linked to Negreira although there is a strong case that they did not get their money’s worth.
Unfortunately, I found form in the loss of the story of all the corruption of the European league. Many years ago, I worked as a freelance analyst for Serie A’s live feed. In one of my visits in the early weekend there was a heated debate between two Italian producers about the possibility that it would be possible to be ready for games to prepare for Juventus. A naving Englishman, I put down to gain architectural folly. How wrong I was! The Calciopoli Scandal quickly broke out and gave birth to how far the deception ran.
But since I have spent a career fighting for absolute justice, I have a different opinion. When I look at my team in the crowd on the field, I see that it is met that the Refs make us dirty but I can keep a clear head and say “no, that was right.” It’s relaxing.
I see no evidence of a deep conspiracy in La Liga. Real Madrid have been awarded more penalties (4) than any other side in La Liga this season, but they make more attacks. Espanyol and Girona have combined (3) and Barca have been given two. La Liga dominated the penalty charts among Europe’s major leagues last season: Real Madrid (11) was at the top and the next six clubs are from La Liga. If there is a strong tradition in Spanish football it means that the referees leave a heavy Footprint in the games. And this season, they maintained their traditional hold on more yellow cards than their European counterparts. Although fair, it seems they have been trying to slow down the decline, as evidenced by the drop in yellow cards from the top in 2018/19.
There was a peak number of red cards shown in 2022/2003. The top four clubs in the five major European languages were all Spanish: Bevis (15), Sevilla (13), Elche (12) and Espayol (10). In this campaign so far, Girona leads the way (5). Every week there are soft red cards in La Liga, but I think it’s important not to lay the blame entirely at the door of the officials. La Liga players are very comfortable with picking up a red or yellow card.
https://twitter.com/footballespana_/status/1993394100373274982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Take Victor Crust this weekend: The game was deep in extra time and Kylia Mbappe passed him, so the man from Elche grabbed his shirt and held on long enough to give a second yellow. In my mind, the players often behave like symbols for weeks and weeks and we see them stir up the flames. It can be a failure of good behavior, a cultural practice or it can show a loss of trust between players and officials: Like the students of a school that has a record of punishing teachers because they don’t show that they have the respect to avoid conflict. It’s an unhealthy circle.
https://twitter.com/footballespana_/status/1993394106031345730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I ran into trouble again: the column that speaks to the mind says that we need to stop talking about rape. I make one complaint: If you watch a match in La Liga or elsewhere, try to put yourself in the referee’s shoes – or better yet, give them a go. I did it and it’s not easy: you don’t see everything and there is a series of 50/50, 60/40, 70/30 calls while players, coaches, spectators all look at their prejudiced lenses.
Add the pressure of a seemingly never-ending chat and the ridiculous viewing of Real Madrid TV running in every visible tone on repeat and you’re somewhere near the LA Liga Match Official experience. Try to focus a little on what the referee has, prevent the demon whispering in your ear that there is a conspiracy and you can watch the ball under pressure.