Villarreal Criticizes Refereeing After 3-1 Loss to Real Madrid

Villarreal expressed strong dissatisfaction with the refereeing in their 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, particularly criticizing referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernández's decisions. The club highlighted several contentious calls, including a penalty awarded to Real Madrid for a foul on Vinícius Jr., two exaggerated yellow cards for Villarreal's full-backs, and a controversial red card for Santiago Mourino, which left Villarreal with ten men. While head coach Marcelino refrained from direct criticism in his post-match comments, he acknowledged his frustration with the officiating and suggested that key decisions influenced the match outcome, though he conceded that Real Madrid deserved the win. Villarreal's players and supporters demanded an explanation from the National Committee of Referees, calling for equal treatment of all clubs. This incident marks another chapter in ongoing frustration for Villarreal with Cuadra Fernández's refereeing, as past matches under his officiation have also sparked controversy. The La Liga president Javier Tebas, known for criticizing Real Madrid over refereeing issues, has yet to comment on Villarreal's grievances, raising questions about consistency in responses to such claims.