Culture Axis: New Preds, Messi answers 'Stoke' question & more

Flimsy Liverpool risk letting down Messi-like Salah in title race

The Curious Case of Marcelo

Man Utd three-peat or MLS? Pogba's transfer options - ranked

UCL Power Rankings: Barca No.1 after lucky draw as Liverpool fall

Editors' Picks

Walker’s wife Kilner jets to Dubai for night out with Rooney

'I regret leaving Barca' - Former wonderkid admits mistake after Camp Nou exit

LIVE: Champions League round of 16 draw

UCL last-16 draw: Liverpool land PSG, Arsenal face PSV

Antony's hot Betis start is over as Barca flop Roque sees red

Walker warned 'Milan is a danger city' after off-field problems

Pep told he can't blame disastrous Man City season on Rodri injury 

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Madrid lost in controversial Espanyol clash</li><li>Club sent letter demanding refereeing reforms</li><li>Called for officials to be removed</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Raging Real Madrid make official complaint about 'serious refereeing behaviour' and 'brutal challenge on Kylian Mbappe' to Spanish Football Federation after shock defeat to Espanyol

LaLiga

Deportivo Alaves

Espanyol

Real Madrid

Girona

<p>La Liga leaders Madrid lost 1-0 through a late goal from Carlos Romero, who was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/ugly-challenge-carlo-ancelotti-fumes-referee-failing-show-red-card-kylian-mbappe-real-madrid-espanyol/blt679cad727db0a39c" target="_blank">lucky to escape a red card earlier in the second half for a harsh challenge on Kylian Mbappe</a>. Espanyol committed 14 fouls to Madrid's three and were given two yellow cards over the 90 minutes at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Madrid have since sent an official letter of complaint to Spanish football's governing body saying that the refereeing system is being "discredited" by decisions that the club argue have gone beyond "human error". The letter also called for the audio recordings of various VAR reviews during the match.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>"The events that occurred in this match have exceeded any margin for human error or referee interpretation. What happened at the RCDE Stadium represents the culmination of a completely discredited refereeing system, in which decisions against Real Madrid have reached a level of manipulation and adulteration of the competition that can no longer be ignored. The two most serious refereeing decisions in this match have once again revealed the double standards with which Real Madrid is refereed," <a href="https://static.realmadrid.com/StaticFiles/RealMadrid/img/pdf/Carta_RM-RFEF.pdf" target="_blank">the letter</a> states.</p><p>"The brutal challenge on Kylian Mbappe, from behind, on the calf and with no possibility of contesting the ball, carried out in the 60th minute of the match by the Espanyol player who would later end up scoring the winning goal for his team, deserving of immediate expulsion as highlighted by the world press, ended with the decision of the referee, Alejandro Muniz Ruiz, to only show a yellow card without the VAR, with Javier Iglesias Villanueva as responsible, intervening to correct a manifestly erroneous decision, leaving unpunished an aggression that in any other competition would have been an exemplary sanction."</p><p>The complaint continued: "Real Madrid cannot accept that the competition continues to be governed by a discredited refereeing system, whose main officials, far from being removed, continue to exercise decisive functions in decision-making. It is not enough to make superficial changes or to replace some directors; the only way to restore the credibility of Spanish refereeing requires a comprehensive reform that includes, as an essential element, the replacement of those referees whose connection with stages under suspicion compromises the legitimacy of the system and perpetuates its lack of transparency."</p>

WHAT REAL MADRID SAID

<p>The Spanish giants will await a reply from the RFEF and hope that reforms are soon adopted. Despite the controversial loss, Madrid are still top of La Liga and a point clear of Atletico Madrid, who they face on Saturday just three days after they meet Leganes in the Copa del Rey.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR MADRID?

Raging Real Madrid make official complaint about 'serious refereeing behaviour' and 'brutal challenge on Kylian Mbappe' to Spanish Football Federation after shock defeat to Espanyol | Goal.com

Real Madrid have sent a letter to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) complaining about refereeing standards after their 1-0 loss to Espanyol.

Raging Real Madrid make official complaint about &apos;serious refereeing behaviour&apos; and &apos;brutal challenge on Kylian Mbappe&apos; to Spanish Football Federation after shock defeat to Espanyol

Next matches