The Referees Committee (CTA) in Spain have released a statement after Jose Luis Munuera Montero received death threats over the course of the weekend. On Monday night, they condemned the attacks that he was suffering, after more vociferous complaints from Real Madrid following his performance during their 1-1 draw against Osasuna.
Most if not all teams in La Liga have voiced their dissatisfaction with the officiating in La Liga over the course of the season, but none as loudly and personally as Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti stoked the discourse on both Saturday and Tuesday, which has been fueled by Real Madrid’s letter to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) accusing the referees of corruption.
🚨 Comunicado de los árbitros y árbitras profesionales.
🔗 https://t.co/qS3JhSjlbt#ArbitrajeRFEF pic.twitter.com/2FBSwNy6yX
— CTA (@CTARFEF) February 17, 2025
The CTA had the following to say.
“The professional referees wish to show our absolute rejection of the attacks and threats that our colleague Jose Luis Munuera Montero is receiving through social networks and that affect both him personally and his family environment.”
“These attacks add to the hatred and verbal violence with which we have to carry out our professional work every weekend and which in the grassroots categories turns, even more regrettably, into physical violence in many more cases.”
There has been talk that the CTA could go on strike if they are not shown more humanity, amid furious debate over their inconsistencies. Meanwhile it seems Real Madrid will get their wish, with the RFEF planning changes at the top of the CTA for the end of the season.
During recent seasons, with both Barcelona and Real Madrid making a habit out of blaming officials, violence against referees has been on the rise. Several officials at the grassroots level have been attacked after or during games, and in some cases even hospitalised by angry fans or family members of late.
