According to Spanish media outlet ESdiario, three of the four referees who officiated Real Madrid matches in the first four matchdays of La Liga in the 2026/27 season were founders and founding members of the Spanish Association of Football Referees (AESAF). This year, the association filed complaints against Real Madrid, Real Madrid TV, and club president Florentino Pérez. The outlet therefore questioned whether a conflict of interest existed, given that these referees continued to officiate Real Madrid matches.

In the first four matchdays of La Liga this season, the referees for Real Madrid matches were Mateo Busquets Ferrer (Matchday 1 vs. Real Sociedad), José María Alexis Martínez (Matchday 2 vs. Espanyol), Juan Martínez Munuera (Matchday 3 vs. Málaga), and Alejandro Hernández Hernández (Matchday 4 vs. Betis).

Among them, Alexis Martínez, Martínez Munuera, and Hernández Hernández are listed as founders and founding members of AESAF. According to information published in Spain's Official State Gazette, they are among the eight referees who promoted the creation of the referees' association in 2025.

The report indicated that AESAF filed two complaints to the National Anti-Violence, Anti-Racism, Anti-Xenophobia and Fair Play Committee in May 2026—one against Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez and another against Real Madrid TV and Real Madrid Club de Fútbol.

Additionally, AESAF also requested that the Competition Committee of the Spanish Football Federation initiate disciplinary proceedings against Florentino Pérez because the Real Madrid president had previously criticized the Spanish refereeing system using terms such as "systemic corruption," "theft of championships," and "illegal enrichment".

ESdiario believes that given the aforementioned disputes between AESAF and Real Madrid, the continued assignment of referees closely associated with the association to officiate Real Madrid matches could raise questions about potential conflicts of interest and referee impartiality.

The Technical Committee of Referees for Professional Competitions is responsible for assigning referees for La Liga and the Segunda División. This body is composed of Fran Soto, President of the Technical Committee of Referees appointed by the Spanish Football Federation; Gregorio Manzano, designated by La Liga; and Fernando Teixeira Vitienes, jointly selected by both parties. This season, referee assignments also receive candidate suggestions from an artificial intelligence system, but the final decision remains with the three individuals mentioned.

Among the referees who officiated Real Madrid matches in the first four matchdays, only Mateo Busquets Ferrer was not a founding member of AESAF. The other three, along with Pablo González Fuertes, Carlos del Cerro Grande, César Soto Grado, Guillermo Cuadra Fernández, and Jesús Gil Manzano, promoted the creation of the association.

The report indicated that Real Madrid sources believe that the repetition of such referee assignments, only months after AESAF filed the complaints, undermines the "appearance of impartiality" that the competition should maintain. As of publication, Spain's Technical Committee of Referees has not publicly explained why it has not avoided assigning referees associated with AESAF to officiate Real Madrid matches.

Traducido por IA.

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