In a stunning revelation, Luis Medina Cantalejo, the president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), has found himself at the center of a scandal involving allegations of VAR manipulation aimed at undermining the interests of Real Madrid.
Alongside him, referees Carlos Clos Gómez and Santiago Jaime Latre have also been implicated, sparking grave concerns about the integrity of officiating within Spanish football.
A complaint obtained by El Debate has shed light on the existence of a covert “operations room” within the CTA, operating concurrently with the VAR room. Allegations indicate that directives are being issued to VAR officials in a manner that deviates from established protocols, particularly during matches involving Real Madrid.
The complaint alleges that specific frames are being selectively chosen with the intent to disadvantage Real Madrid, regardless of the assigned match officials.
The identity of a “Chief Operating Officer” within this operations room remains undisclosed, purportedly engaging in communication with VAR officials and CTA head Carlos Clos Gómez without any documented record of these interactions.
Furthermore, the complaint contends that both Clos Gómez and Medina Cantalejo sanctioned the establishment of this operations room, enabling real-time manipulation of match referees for potentially unethical purposes.
Another troubling aspect of the complaint is the alleged manipulation, suppression, and concealment of VAR images to serve certain vested interests.
Evidence suggests a consistent pattern of selectively chosen frames and deliberate suppression of images that could clarify contentious decisions.
Of particular concern is the purported concealment of player aggressions, primarily against Real Madrid players, despite the presence of multiple camera angles. Such actions cast serious doubt on the fairness and transparency of officiating, with accusations pointing towards bias against specific teams.
The scandal extends beyond Medina Cantalejo and Clos Gómez to involve several other referees, some of whom are implicated in the Negreira case investigated by magistrate Joaquín Aguirre from the Court of Instruction number 1 of Barcelona.
For instance, referee Jaime Latre reportedly confessed to Civil Guard agents that certain colleagues made payments to Negreira’s son for coaching services without proper contracts or invoices. Similarly, referee David Medié faces scrutiny for payments made to Negreira’s son, further tarnishing the reputation of Spanish football refereeing.
As investigations progress, these damning allegations cast a shadow over the credibility of officiating in Spanish football, with Real Madrid finding itself entangled in a contentious controversy.
