Pedrerol's Unexpected Message About LaLiga and Champions League Referees

Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, and FC Barcelona are in the Champions League Round of 16. The Spanish teams have chances to win this year's top continental competition, although not all will reach the quarterfinals. Because Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid are facing each other in a double "Euroclassic" that Carlo Ancelotti's pupils are currently winning.

Unlike in LaLiga,  that match played at Santiago Bernabéu didn't have any refereeing controversies. The performance of Clément Turpin pleased both teams, who didn't have to make any comments about the decisions made by the referees appointed by UEFA. The "silence" in that regard contrasts with the "noise" caused in FC Barcelona's match.

The team coached by Hansi Flick faced Benfica at Estadio da Luz to kick off the Champions League round of 16, a tense match. Despite not having a good start in Portuguese lands, the blaugrana team ended up winning that match thanks to Raphinha's solitary goal in the 61st minute.

The clash was also marked by the  expulsion of Pau Cubarsí, a Barça center-back. The footballer went all in, making a  tackle closing both legs, on a Benfica forward. The referee in charge of the match,  Felix Zwayer, didn't hesitate to expel FC Barcelona's "2" by showing him the direct red card.

Situations of Contrast

That decision has caused much indignation among Barça fans. To the point where it has become one of the topics of debate, in our country, about the already concluded first leg of the round of 16. Josep Pedrerol didn't miss the opportunity to comment on it, recalling the difference between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in this regard.

"Real Madrid complains about Spanish referees, Barça about European referees," noted the director of "El Chiringuito de Jugones" in his first appreciation of the sports program. The reality is that Real Madrid has not only complained about the refereeing performances it has suffered, with special intensity and vehemence, in recent seasons.

The board of directors led by Florentino Pérez, with special emphasis following the outbreak of the "Negreira case," would have called for the regeneration of the refereeing collective and system. These requests, expressed more than once through letters and official statements addressed to RFEF and CSD, have placed the rest of the LaLiga teams against them. From the offices of Valdebebas, they will never understand that stance, given that all First and Second Division teams "protest" about refereeing decisions in almost every matchday.

That's why the Merengue leaders insist so much on their stance, which  doesn't seem to find much direct support in Spanish soccer. A different situation is in European competitions, where the referees appointed by UEFA are the best from their countries... and enjoy a neutrality and impartiality contrasted by all the clubs that access the tournaments organized by the entity based in Nyon.