Real Madrid Furious Over Refereeing as Club Plans FIFA Report After Controversial Red Card

Real Madrid are four wins from four in La Liga, but Saturday night’s victory over Real Sociedad was anything but straightforward. Xabi Alonso’s side battled to a gritty 2-1 win in San Sebastián, but the performance and the three points were quickly overshadowed by yet another refereeing controversy – one that has left the club furious and ready to take its grievances to the very top of world football.

Huijsen’s Red Card Sparks Outrage

The flashpoint came in the 32nd minute. Defender Dean Huijsen, who has become one of Alonso’s most trusted starters, was shown a straight red card by referee Jesús Gil Manzano for what he judged to be a denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

The incident saw Huijsen and Real Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal sprinting side by side as they chased a long ball over the top. There was minimal contact – Huijsen’s arm brushed Oyarzabal’s shoulder – and the Sociedad forward went to ground. The ball was not under Oyarzabal’s full control, and Madrid players immediately surrounded the referee in disbelief.

Gil Manzano, however, wasted no time. He reached straight for his back pocket, leaving Real Madrid down to ten men before half-time. The decision set off a storm both on the pitch and online, with replays showing that Eder Militão was in a covering position just a few meters away.

Xabi Alonso’s Heated Exchange

Real Sociedad v Real Madrid CF – LaLiga EA Sports

Xabi Alonso, usually calm and measured on the touchline, could not hide his frustration. The Basque coach stormed towards the fourth official, protesting that the decision was harsh and demanding that VAR review the call. His protests earned him a yellow card.

After the match, footage surfaced online that captured Alonso’s tense exchange with the referee:

“Jesús, I don’t want to, but you’re making me think badly, man,” Alonso could be heard saying. “Haven’t you seen that Militao is on the side? He’s five meters from the play. This one will go to the CTA [Technical Committee] for sure. It will go on video for review, for sure.”

In his post-match press conference, Alonso remained firm in his assessment:

“For me it was a yellow card,” he said. “Militão was close, the ball wasn’t under control, and there were still 40 meters left to goal. That’s my interpretation. The referee had another one, and VAR should have had another one too, but I’ve seen the replay and I haven’t changed my mind. I asked him for his explanation, but I wasn’t convinced. We’ll leave it at that.”

Madrid’s War With Referees Escalates

This is not the first time Madrid have been at odds with refereeing decisions. Last season under Carlo Ancelotti, Los Blancos regularly voiced displeasure at key calls going against them, with the Italian openly criticizing officials in press conferences.

Now, under Alonso, the club seems to be doubling down. Shortly after the final whistle, Real Madrid TV announced that the club would compile a full report on what it sees as a pattern of officiating errors.

“Real Madrid is preparing a report with everything that has happened in these first four rounds of La Liga and what happened last season,” the club’s statement read. “A dossier that is going to be submitted to FIFA so that they take good note of what is happening in Spanish football with regard to refereeing.”

The announcement makes it clear that Madrid are no longer content to simply voice frustration in the media – they want action taken, and they want the world’s governing body to pay attention.

Crisis at the Back for Champions League Opener

REAL MADRID

The controversy came at a particularly bad time for Alonso, who is already facing a defensive headache. Madrid were hit with another blow ahead of the Sociedad trip when Antonio Rüdiger was ruled out until December with a thigh injury.

With Rüdiger sidelined and Huijsen suspended domestically, Alonso will be forced to reshuffle his back line again for upcoming La Liga matches. Fortunately for Madrid, Huijsen’s ban will not carry over into Europe, meaning he will be available for Wednesday’s Champions League opener against Marseille at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Still, the lack of defensive depth is a concern heading into a busy autumn schedule that includes key domestic clashes and a grueling Champions League group stage.

Alonso’s Challenge: Keep Focus on the Football

Despite the drama, Alonso has been keen to stress that Madrid cannot afford to get distracted by refereeing debates. The former midfielder knows that letting frustration linger can affect performances, and he will be eager to shift the focus back onto football when Marseille visit midweek.

But the sense of injustice remains. Fans at the Reale Arena chanted and whistled as Madrid players left the pitch, and social media was awash with clips of the red card incident. Many pundits, including former referees, suggested that a yellow card would have been the correct decision – not a straight dismissal.

For Alonso and Madrid, this is just the latest chapter in a growing feud with Spanish referees. The coming weeks could see tensions rise even further, especially if the club’s formal report leads to more scrutiny on La Liga officiating.