The Incident That Shook El Clásico
The football world was left stunned during the Spanish Super Cup first leg on August 13 when Cristiano Ronaldo received a controversial red card at Camp Nou. After scoring a spectacular goal to put Real Madrid 2-1 up against Barcelona, the Portuguese superstar was shown a second yellow for an alleged dive following minimal contact with Samuel Umtiti. What followed was unprecedented – Ronaldo pushed referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea before storming off, resulting in a five-match ban (four games for the push, one for the dismissal).
Real Madrid’s Problematic Response
A month later, Baji sources reveal growing frustration across La Liga about Real Madrid’s refusal to acknowledge wrongdoing. While the club vehemently disputes the second yellow card (a debatable decision), their silence about the referee push speaks volumes.
Terry Gibson, speaking on Baji La Liga Weekly podcast, articulated what many are thinking:
“They’re fixated on the dive call but completely ignoring the elephant in the room – you can’t lay hands on an official. Not even a token apology? It sets a terrible precedent.”
This isn’t an isolated case. Real have seen three red cards already this season:
- Marcelo’s studs-up challenge vs Levante (clear red)
- Sergio Ramos’ accumulation of fouls vs Deportivo (lucky to last that long)
- Ronaldo‘s double incident
Tactical Consequences of Ronaldo’s Absence
Zinedine Zidane’s men have dropped critical points during Ronaldo‘s suspension:
- 1-1 vs Valencia (23 shots, 1 goal)
- 2-2 vs Levante (shot xG of 3.7)
As Baji analyst Jon Driscoll notes:
“Without CR7’s ruthless efficiency, Madrid are creating chances but lacking that clinical edge. Bale and Benzema aren’t providing the same gravitational pull that opens spaces.”
The Bigger Picture: Discipline vs Conspiracy Theories
While Florentino Pérez hints at “institutional bias,” the evidence suggests otherwise:
- Real Madrid received the fewest red cards in La Liga last season (2)
- Their current tally (3 in 4 games) stems from reckless challenges
- No other top club has players pushing referees
Gibson’s take on Baji podcast cuts through the noise:
“This isn’t some vendetta – Marcelo’s tackle was dangerous, Ramos should’ve gone earlier, and touching officials is always punished harshly. Madrid miss Ronaldo, but they created this problem.”
What Comes Next?
With Ronaldo returning after the Sociedad game, focus shifts to:
- Whether Madrid will finally address the referee incident
- How the Portuguese reintegrates into a struggling attack
- If this disciplinary trend continues in UCL matches
One thing’s certain – as Baji will continue tracking, this saga has exposed deeper cultural issues at the Bernabéu that stats alone can’t solve. The question isn’t just when Ronaldo returns, but whether Madrid learns from this self-inflicted crisis.
