The Valencia–Real Madrid match for the 12th round of La Liga was extremely eventful. The home team had strong complaints about the refereeing in the first half, with Mafeo voicing them on camera.
“I have absolutely no desire to give this interview. It’s bullshit. This interview makes no sense. They’re calling fouls that don’t exist. It’s bullshit. There was no foul on the first goal. The referee isn’t fair,” emphasized the 29-year-old defender, who played for Olympiacos at the start of the season.
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What was happening at the same time in the tunnel, however, went too far. “It’s not a foul, it’s provocation—it’s unbelievable,” said Valencia’s sporting director, Braulio. At the same time, several “Bats” players were heading toward the locker room, along with three Real Madrid players, and all hell broke loose. According to a report in “Marca,” Bellingham reportedly grabbed Braulio by his jersey to pull him away from the assistant referee. This led to a scuffle among the players and the intervention of stadium security, who tried to push back the Real Madrid players. Players rushed in, and Rüdiger, according to reports, struck one of them in the face. Konaté tried to act as a peacemaker, shouting, “Calm down.”
It should be noted that the first half ended 2-0 in favor of Real Madrid, which ultimately won 3-0, while the visitors finished the match with ten players after Gaya was sent off in the second half.
Valencia has the relevant video footage, in which, according to reports, while the referee’s match report omits these incidents and focuses on Braulio’s protests, noting that there was tension in the tunnel.
*photo source: AP
