REFEREE CLAIMS HE WAS TOLD TO FAVOUR REAL MADRID IN EL CLASSICO

Spanish police are investigating claims an assistant referee has had pressure put on him to give decisions in favour of Real Madrid in the upcoming Clasico against Barcelona on November 21.

El controversy

Radio station Cadena COPE have leaked a document presented to the police by Jacinto Vicente Hernandez, a lawyer who specialises in sports.
The six-page long document details how an official, who wants to remain unnamed for professional reasons, was asked to make calls which would benefit Madrid in Spanish football’s showpiece next month.

It suggests the Referee’s Committee preferred the assistant referee to give the decisions because in a game earlier this season some favourable decisions from another referee generated too much controversy.
“Someone let me know about a referee that had a problem and wanted to talk with me,” Vicente explained to SPORT after the document became public knowledge.
“You can work out he’s not from Barcelona [as he wouldn’t be allowed to officiate the Clasico if he was], but I was in the city for professional reasons and we arranged to meet there.
“He explained everything that had happened and said he wanted to go public about the pressure being put on him because it’s the only way to clean up Spanish football.”
Vicente explains that the official initially wanted advice on how to publish the information, but he advised him that in this case it would be best to take it to the police.
The officials for the Clasico have still not been officially named, nor will they be until a week before the game.