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The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has launched a review into media reports concerning referee José Luis Munuera Montero, who officiated Real Madrid’s recent 1-1 draw against Osasuna and controversially sent off Jude Bellingham.
According to Spanish media outlets, Munuera has ties to a company called Talentus Sports Speakers, which allegedly has professional relationships with organizations such as LaLiga, UEFA, the RFEF, and multiple football clubs. The potential conflict of interest has raised concerns over the neutrality of officiating in Spanish football.
In response, Munuera issued a statement via Instagram on Tuesday denying any wrongdoing. He asserted that Talentus Sports Speakers has never received payments from any sporting institution and vowed to take legal action against those spreading what he described as false or misleading information.
“In recent months, referees have faced disproportionate attacks, and now I find myself at the center of this latest controversy,” Munuera wrote. “This company was established less than a year ago to help athletes share their experiences and values with wider audiences. It has not conducted business transactions with any football clubs, federations, or related organizations.”
The RFEF confirmed that its Regulatory Compliance Committee is reviewing the information to assess whether Munuera’s external business dealings conflict with its governance policies. “In accordance with our good governance codes, an analysis has commenced regarding the reports concerning the First Division referee José Luis Munuera Montero,” the RFEF stated.
This development comes just a day after Real Madrid officials visited RFEF headquarters to raise concerns about officiating standards. The club has been vocal about its grievances with refereeing decisions this season, particularly following their recent 1-0 loss to Espanyol on February 1.
Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid, a club that has frequently opposed Real Madrid’s complaints about referees, publicly defended match officials on social media. The club posted, “The pressure has been mounting for weeks, sweeping aside anything in its path. Who will be the next to be targeted?” with the hashtag “Stop Refereeing Harassment Now.”
The RFEF emphasized that Munuera will not be assigned further matches while the review is ongoing. The findings of the inquiry will be disclosed once the process is complete.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay / Alexander Fox (PlaNet Fox), Pexels / BOOM
