Over the weekend at the Santiago Bernabéu, a scene was experienced that remained etched in the memories of Real Madrid and Villarreal fans. In the match that ended 1‑0 in favor of the visitor, referee Isidro Díaz de Mera sent off Vinícius Júnior after pulling Saliba's hair, an action that also annulled the goal that the striker had scored just before the goal. The decision sparked a violent reaction in the stadium, with the Brazilian and coach José Mourinho, who came up to hug the victim, showing their frustration at what they perceived as unfair refereeing.
The white team's discontent was not limited to the match. On Monday and Tuesday, the Madrid fans expressed their complaint through social networks and interviews, pointing out that the referee “ate” the team from the first minute. The club's president, Florentino Pérez, also expressed his dissatisfaction, and Mourinho himself abstained from participating in the press conference, making it clear that the club did not accept the referee's actions.
In the midst of this controversy, Villarreal midfielder, Santi Comesaña, responded frankly to the criticism. Comesaña, who is one of the team's locker room leaders, said there was no doubt that the referee had committed a foul. "I saw it from the first minute. I don't know what they are complaining about. If the red card was given, it is a decision that must be respected. They were eating it from the beginning," he commented. According to Comesaña, Villarreal had kept their focus on the game and had played a solid match, although he regretted not having been able to turn that performance into a victory.
The match itself was a close contest. Villarreal managed to maintain the advantage with a goal from their forward, but Real Madrid could not react. The expulsion of Vinícius Júnior left the team with ten players during the second half, which made their comeback attempt difficult. Despite the defeat, Villarreal remains in a favorable position in the table, while Real Madrid must analyze how to improve its performance after the controversy.
The white club will continue to review the referee's actions and consider possible disciplinary actions. For its part, Villarreal is focused on its next match, with Comesaña and the rest of the team ready to continue competing in the league. The debate about the quality of refereeing in the season continues, and both teams are prepared to face the next challenges with the same intensity that they showed at the Bernabéu.