Real Madrid’s Draw with Osasuna Affected by Bellingham’s Red Card and Controversial Penalty

Real Madrid faced setbacks in their title race after Jude Bellingham received a red card for allegedly insulting the referee during their match against CA Osasuna, resulting in a 1:1 draw. The record champions could see their city rivals Atlético Madrid leapfrog them into first place with a win against Celta Vigo on Saturday evening.

Madrid initially appeared to be on course for victory after Kylian Mbappé scored in the 15th minute. However, Bellingham lost his composure and expressed his discontent with a referee decision to José Luis Munuera, leading to his dismissal in the 39th minute. The exact words that prompted the red card remain unclear.

Controversial Penalty for Osasuna

Real’s frustration increased when Osasuna equalized through Ante Budemir via a disputed penalty in the 58th minute. The Video Assistant Referee intervened after Eduardo Camavinga inadvertently stepped on Budimir’s foot while attempting to clear the ball. Real’s coach Carlo Ancelotti was visibly distraught at the sideline, covering his face with his hands.

Real’s Criticism of Refereeing in Spain

This incident comes on the heels of Real’s recent public criticism of the refereeing standards in Spain. Following a 0:1 loss to Espanyol Barcelona, the club submitted a four-page protest letter to the Spanish Football Federation, which they published on their website.

Real described the performance of the officiating crew, including VAR, as „scandalous,“ arguing that it marked a peak of a discredited refereeing system that has reached a point where the manipulation of competition cannot be ignored. Liga President Javier Tebas responded, stating that the club’s leadership had „lost their minds“ and revealed that the league is considering legal action regarding the letter.