MADRID’S VICTORY OVERSHADOWED BY RED CARD DRAMA
Real Madrid walked away from Anoeta with three points and a perfect start under new coach Xabi Alonso, but the conversation after their 2–1 win over Real Sociedad was dominated by something else entirely: the red card shown to Dean Huijsen.
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The moment came in the 32nd minute, when Huijsen and Mikel Oyarzabal sprinted shoulder to shoulder. As the Sociedad captain went down, referee Jesús Gil Manzano immediately brandished a straight red, ruling that Huijsen had denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
For Madrid, it was a decision that felt harsh and unjustified. Alonso exploded on the touchline, earning himself a yellow card. He later argued:
“For me it was a yellow card. Militao was close, the ball wasn’t under control, and there were still 40 meters left. The referee had another interpretation, and VAR should have had another one too, but I’ve seen the replay and I haven’t changed my mind.”
Video from the match even picked up Alonso confronting the referee:
“Jesus, I don’t want to, but you’re making me think badly, man. Haven’t you seen that Militao is on the side? He’s five meters from the play. This one will go to the CTA, for sure.”
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MADRID BOLD STEP: TAKING THE CASE TO FIFA
After the game, Real Madrid TV, the club’s official channel, confirmed that the club is preparing a full dossier of refereeing errors from this season and the last.
“Real Madrid is preparing a report with everything that has happened in these first four rounds of La Liga and what happened last season,” the statement said. “A dossier, that report, which is going to be submitted to FIFA so that they take good note of what is happening in Spanish football with regard to refereeing.”
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This is not the first time Madrid have clashed with officials. Just last season, they filed a complaint with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after a 1–0 defeat to Espanyol, when referee Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz showed only a yellow card to Carlos Romero for a foul on Kylian Mbappé. Romero later scored the winning goal.
For Madrid, Huijsen’s dismissal feels like the continuation of a trend — one that they now want FIFA to investigate.
SPANISH REFEREEING ALREADY UNDER REVIEW
Ironically, this escalation comes just as Spanish refereeing authorities are trying to be more transparent. The RFEF’s Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) recently launched Review Time, a new series breaking down controversial calls across La Liga, La Liga 2, and Liga F.
The very first episode already admitted to a mistake: Ferran Torres’s goal for Barcelona in their opening game should not have stood. Huijsen’s red card is widely expected to feature in the next installment.
Still, Real Madrid’s decision to bypass domestic channels and go straight to FIFA sends a clear message: they don’t trust the current system to deliver fairness.
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOCUS — BUT DEFENSIVE HEADACHES REMAIN
While the refereeing debate rumbles on, Madrid’s immediate task is preparing for their Champions League opener against Marseille. Antonio Rüdiger is sidelined until December with a thigh injury, and Huijsen will now miss domestic action due to suspension.
For Alonso, that leaves big questions at the back — but for Madrid as an institution, the bigger battle may be off the pitch, as their complaint to FIFA could open a new chapter in the ongoing saga between Los Blancos and Spanish referees.
WHAT NEXT?
Real Madrid’s win over Real Sociedad should have been about their strong start to life under Xabi Alonso. Instead, it has sparked a full-blown refereeing storm. By taking their case to FIFA, Madrid are not only challenging one red card — they are questioning the credibility of Spanish officiating as a whole.
Whether FIFA responds or not, one thing is certain: this story is far from over, and refereeing decisions in La Liga will now face more scrutiny than ever.
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