If you’ve been keeping up with La Liga, then you know that the referees have been a hot topic, and for anyone who reads my articles, it shouldn't surprise you that I love talking about referees. They have always been a part of the game that has been overly magnified when things go wrong and extremely underrated when things are right.

But right now, not many fans are giving the refs in Spain a really tough time. Real Madrid is getting involved, which is only adding to the tension. 

Real Madrid have been the subject of several controversial refereeing decisions, the most controversial one being Jude Bellingham’s red card for swearing at referee Munuera Montero during Madrid’s La Liga match against Osasuna, with the game finishing 1-1, which was Real Madrid’s third straight La Liga game without winning, letting Barcelona pass them in the standings. After their loss against Real Betis, Madrid sits third behind both Atlético and Barcelona. 

The reaction from Madrid fans has been rambunctious to say the least, but more surprisingly, the entire club has launched a campaign against the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) in what opponents of Madrid are calling an attempt to influence and pressure the officials. As a result, fans have increased their own personal attacks towards 

The CTA, which is under the direction of RFEF, didn’t mince their words regarding the disgusting behavior that has been shown towards Munuera Montero.

"The professional referees wish to express our absolute rejection of the attacks and threats that our colleague José Luis Munuera Montero is receiving through social media, which affect him personally as well as his family environment,” the organization said. "These attacks add to the hate and verbal violence with which we have to perform our professional work every weekend and which in the grassroots categories, often turns into, even more regrettably, physical violence in many more cases."

The message is clear: RFEF is not happy with the fans regarding how they’re lashing out towards the refs while also indirectly hitting at Real Madrid for their campaign against the referees. 

It has gone to the point that Javier Tebas, La Liga president and self-proclaimed Madrid fan, has said that Real Madrid has “lost their minds” regarding their recent mentality. 

"They have constructed a narrative of victimhood that culminated in the statement they released the other day. They have told a story of victimhood that is not true," Tebas stated to clubs in a meeting that Madrid didn’t attend.

With Real Madrid third in the standings, further losses could be blamed on the referees, possibly adding further pressure and undermining the rule of law in Spanish football, which is already a contentious topic. 

Do I think that RFEF referees are at a lower level than many other leagues in Europe? Yes, actually. The lack of consistency is definitely not a good thing, but that’s not enough evidence to say there’s a conspiracy to tank Madrid to the ground. The Madridistas are swimming in dangerous waters.