BARCELONA, Spain — The referee who sent Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham off for swearing has condemned what he labels a false allegation from local media, which has led to his temporary suspension by the Spanish football federation.
On Tuesday, the federation announced that José Luis Munuera would be sidelined from officiating matches while it evaluates a report from the online source El Español. This report claimed that Munuera had business connections with “officials” in La Liga.
Central to the report is Talentus Sports Speakers, a company in which Munuera is involved, offering motivational talks delivered by various sports figures. In response, Munuera issued a statement asserting that Talentus Sports Speakers “has never invoiced any amount from any sporting institution, whether it is a club, a federation, or a company affiliated with sports.”
He also mentioned his intention to pursue legal action against media outlets that have disseminated “false or incorrect information” about him and the refereeing profession, either intentionally or through negligence.
La Liga president Javier Tebas expressed support for the federation’s decision while emphasizing that the league has no business involvement with Munuera or Talentus Sports Speakers. Tebas explained that the league had previously used services from a different company, which is co-owned by a former league official who also collaborates with Talentus Sports Speakers.
In an interview with Spanish radio broadcaster Cope, Munuera highlighted his willingness to prove to the federation that he has never received payment from any sports organization. He mentioned that he had been delivering sports-related talks for several years prior to co-founding Talentus Sports Speakers last year.
The scrutiny on Munuera’s business engagements arose shortly after he became a focal point for discussions among Spanish soccer media and Real Madrid supporters, following his controversial decision to issue a red card to Bellingham for using an English profanity while contesting his officiating during a 1-1 draw against Osasuna in La Liga.
Both Madrid’s manager Carlo Ancelotti and Bellingham criticized Munuera’s decision, asserting that it was a mistake. This criticism from Madrid followed a previous statement issued two weeks earlier, wherein the club harshly criticized Spanish referees, alleging they consistently favored opponents of the historic 36-time champions.
Before facing criticism, the federation had released a statement on Monday denouncing the “attacks and threats” Munuera received on social media after issuing Bellingham’s red card.
