The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation takes measures
The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has opened a file due to the controversial videos that Real Madrid TV has been broadcasting about the referees who direct the white team’s matches. This action is carried out after Sevilla presented a second complaint, since the first was dismissed due to lack of solid arguments
Sevilla FC has received notification of the opening of the file against Real Madrid by the Disciplinary Committee of the RFEF. This complaint was filed due to a video broadcast by Real Madrid TV in which referees Isidro Díaz de Mera and Pablo González Fuertes were mentioned, who were appointed to referee the match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC, both on the field and in the VAR (https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_(grammatical)).
The process and possible sanctions
Once the Disciplinary Committee has opened the file, an investigating judge will be appointed, who must communicate his decision within a period of one month. Furthermore, the League has the option to intervene in the case, considering that so far there has been no action by the clubs involved (https://www.spanish.cl/Grammar/Notes/Articulos_Definidos_Indefineds.htm).
The key to this case is found in article 106 of the RFEF Disciplinary Code, which establishes that any person subject to sporting discipline who makes statements questioning the honesty and impartiality of the referees or RFEF bodies, or who disapproves of their activity using offensive, insulting, humiliating or bad language will be sanctioned. In the case of footballers, coaches, physical trainers, delegates, doctors, ATS/FTP or material managers, the sanction can be four to twelve match suspensions and a fine of 601 to 3,005.06 euros. For directors, clubs or other people or entities, the fine can be from 601 to 3,005.06 euros (https://www.rae.es/dpd/el).
Real Madrid’s position
Real Madrid defends that these videos are an expression of freedom of expression. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has stated that it is surprising that this aspect is not taken into account and has compared the Real Madrid TV videos with the opinions expressed by the media.
Despite the criticism generated by these videos, Real Madrid TV continues to publish them, in which the referees are harshly criticized, before matches. This practice has been questioned by some clubs, such as Sevilla and Barcelona, since they consider that it clearly affects the work of the referees (https://www.rae.es/duda-linguistica/es-correcto-anadir-articulo- to the-first-name-as-in-the-luis-or-the-susana).
In summary, the RFEF Disciplinary Committee has taken measures in response to the controversial videos broadcast by Real Madrid TV about the referees. A file has been opened and the corresponding decisions are expected to be made within a month. Real Madrid defends that these videos are an expression of freedom of expression, while other clubs consider that they negatively affect the work of referees (https://www.spanish.cl/Grammar/Notes/Articulos_Definidos_Indefineds.htm)