Real Madrid's channel opens fire on the referee of the Espanyol match | Goal.com

Published on 24 Aug 2026 | Reading time: 2 minutes

Real Madrid's television channel launched scathing criticism at the officiating team of the first team's match against Espanyol in the Spanish league, accusing them of being overly lenient with the violent challenges against Vinicius Junior.

Real Madrid opened their La Liga campaign last Saturday against Espanyol in Barcelona, and the Whites came away with a 2-1 win.

A late goal sealed it for Madrid, but Vinicius stole the spotlight with his constant altercations with opposition players and fans.

According to the Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo", the club's La Liga opener also marked the return of the video clips criticising officiating on the Whites' television channel.

The clip broadcast by Real Madrid's channel pointed the finger at both Sanchez Martinez, the referee that day, and Figueroa Vazquez, the video assistant referee.

Madrid's channel argued that Cala deserved to be sent off, blaming the officials for not booking him after his violent challenge on Vinicius in the third minute.

The clip put it bluntly: "Sanchez Martinez did not show him the yellow card. This was the first major decision of the referee from the city of Murcia, and he would continue along this approach, alongside Figueroa Vazquez in the video assistant referee technology."

It went on: "The referees were extremely lenient with the violent fouls committed by Espanyol's players, especially those to which Vinicius was subjected."

Defending Vinicius, the channel's officials said he was targeted with numerous fouls designed to "take him out of the match's atmosphere, which repeatedly ended without a yellow card being shown".

The channel then compared Cala's challenge on Vinicius with what happened to Lamine Yamal against Elche, saying: "Lamine's fouls are penalised with a yellow card at the slightest contact."

Real Madrid's channel also demanded a red card for Cala over his violent challenge on Carreras. The Whites' channel reckoned that incident warranted a second yellow for the Espanyol player, convinced his earlier challenge on Vinicius already deserved a booking.

In both cases, the clip confirmed, Cala went unpunished.You can discuss topics and news in greater depth in the "Kooora" forums

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