Former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has told the media that Real Madrid’s incendiary letter to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) about the refereeing in La Liga is merely a distraction from their struggles on the pitch. Los Blancos are still atop La Liga, but defeat to Espanyol slashed the gap to rivals Atletico Madri and Barcelona.
Pique, who needs no second invitation to criticise Real Madrid, explained that the entire drama was orchestrated off the back of the loss, in order to put pressure on the officials.
“The statement is a complete smokescreen. They have done it for 120 years. When they lose you have to talk about something else. It’s what they want. Referees are like that and that’s how they will be forever. They are going to be wrong.”
“From Madrid it has always been done and media pressure and turning on the machines when things are not going well, we are used to it. From there the referees are going to have pressure,” he commented at an event promoting UberEats for La Liga, as quoted by Marca.
Meanwhile long-time Spain teammate and Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas, who was also present at the event, backed the letter.
“I think the statement is good because the club has to defend its interests. The refereeing establishment after the VAR, now each action is analysed a lot, they could do with a former player who, with his experience, could say what he sees. We can say when actions are voluntary. The handballs that Pique did, for example.”
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said that he whole-heartedly agreed with the letter, which noted that the refereeing system was corrupt and manipulated against them. Meanwhile Barcelona coach Hansi Flick distanced himself from the entire incident, but noted that he would not have gone about it in the same fashion.
BiIIyDedon
17
The difference between Madrid and Barcelona is Barcelona is famous and known due to football but the other that is Madrid has made football famous As a barca fan this is my honest confession
ndabawubafo
9
I don't know why noise so much every single team in La Lliga be it small or big have been wronged by referee or VAR decisions. recently we're also affected by these decisions our game against Getafe in which we're held draw we had opportunity to won it at final stage of the match where Kounde was fouled in the opponent box but guess what VAR didn't call and all the world knows it was clear PK, Same thing happened to Celta Vigo against where our Gerrad Martins were supposed to be given second yellow buh ref if every barca fan were to be honest the boy deserves second yellow card and even though Celta were very upset with the situation they didn't make fuse like this. infact we're all familiar with what's happening in EPL where big teams like Arsenal, Liverpool and co were affected by wrong decisions by ref and VAR but yet EPL didn't discredit their entire ref organization rather they'll punish the ref involved or tender an apology. Seriously Madrid is big than this cus you guys have benefited so many times by VAR and ref decisions. if you think you're not ok with my point then you're free to point out yours.