'You don't become a referee until you bump into Real Madrid'

BeSoccer 2 years ago 1.7k
Iturralde Gonzalez defended referee Mario Melero Lopez. Screenshot/Carrusel

Former Spanish referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez spoke on Spanish radio programme 'El Larguero' to talk about the controversy in Real Madrid's game with Girona and the post match comments by coach Carlo Ancelotti. Iturralde Gonzalez said a coach cannot say a referee invented a penalty and talked about how difficult it is to referee Real Madrid.

Controversy remains two days after Real Madrid faced Girona at the Santiago Bernabeu. Madrid had a handball penalty given against Asensio which saw Girona get a 1-1 draw. The incident was criticised by Carlo Ancelotti and also by Asensio on his social media account. 

Therefore, former La Liga official Iturralde Gonzalez spoke to 'El Larguero' to analyse the incident and talk about comments made by the Italian boss which could see him receive a four match suspension. 

"The CTA (Spain's refereeing committee) are calm because they say the referee was right with all his decisions. They knew this would happen. Many times you laugh when I tell you that when I began refereeing, they said, 'you don't become a referee until you bump into the Real Madrid bus," he said. 

He also talked about the repercussion any decision against Madrid has in the media: "The repercussion Real Madrid have in this country, whether you like it or not, is much more than even the second. Ancelotti could be suspended. A coach cannot say that a referee invented a penalty, it's very serious. He could face a ban of between four and 12 matches."

 

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