BARCELONA, Spain — The referee who issued a red card to Real Madrid player Jude Bellingham for swearing at him has publicly criticized what he claims to be a misleading accusation by local media, which has temporarily led to his suspension by the Spanish soccer federation.
On Tuesday, the federation announced that José Luis Munuera would be sidelined from officiating matches while they investigate a report from an online publication that alleges Munuera has business connections with “officials” within the Spanish league.
The report primarily targets Talentus Sports Speakers, a company in which Munuera is involved, known for providing motivational talks conducted by sports personalities.
In response, Munuera released a statement clarifying that Talentus Sports Speakers has never charged any fees to any sports organizations, including clubs, federations, or related companies. He further indicated plans to pursue legal action against media outlets that have disseminated what he describes as false or negligent information regarding him and the refereeing profession.
Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, expressed his support for the federation’s move, while noting that his league does not engage in any business with Munuera or Talentus Sports Speakers. Tebas mentioned that the league had previously used services offered by a different entity, co-owned by an ex-league employee who is also linked to Talentus Sports Speakers.
In a conversation with Spanish radio station Cope, Munuera reaffirmed his commitment to proving to the federation that he has never received compensation from any sports governing body. He acknowledged that he had been delivering sports talks for several years prior to the founding of the company last year.
This scrutiny of Munuera’s business dealings arose shortly after he became a topic of discussion among Spanish media and Real Madrid supporters for sending off Bellingham during a 1-1 draw against Osasuna in La Liga, where the midfielder had expressed frustration in English after an officiating call.
Following the match, both Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti and Bellingham suggested that Munuera had made a mistake in showing the red card. These comments came after Madrid had previously criticized the refereeing in Spain, alleging that officials consistently favor the club’s adversaries in light of their 36 championships.
Prior to the media controversy, the federation had issued a statement condemning the “attacks and threats” directed at Munuera on social media following his decision to send off Bellingham.
In related disciplinary news, the federation revealed that Bellingham would face a two-game suspension due to his “disrespectful” conduct towards Munuera, making him ineligible for upcoming league matches against Girona and Real Betis.
