The Spanish referee who was at the centre of the controversy surrounding his decision to send off Jude Bellingham during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Osasuna on Saturday has finally spoken out.
A straight red card was shown to Bellingham by Jose Luis Munuera Montero, who is 41 years old, for a comment that he considered to be a voice of disagreement.
Bellingham, on the other hand, has stated that he did not insult the official, stating, “There was no intent to insult him, there was no insult, and for that reason I think you can see there was a misunderstanding.”
In his remarks following the blowing of the final whistle, Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Real Madrid, provided an explanation for the dismissal of the England international player. He suggested that there was a misunderstanding between the player and the referee.
The referee did not appear to comprehend Jude Bellingham’s English, according to Ancelotti, who stated his opinion. Rather than saying f*ck you, he said f*ck off. That’s a very different thing. Because I want to be on the bench the following week, I won’t go into any further detail about the referee.
There have been reports in Spain that have claimed that Talentus Sports Speakers, a company that is connected with the official, has business relationships with La Liga, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), and several clubs. These reports have been made since the incident involving the red card.
In point of fact, Jose Luis Munuera Montero is currently being investigated by the RFEF for a possible conflict of interest. Additionally, UEFA has removed him from his duties as a referee, according to MARCA, who assert that he will not continue to officiate until the conclusion of his current case.
During his appearance on Cadena Cope, the official has now publicly refuted allegations that he had a conflict of interest regarding the matter.
The statement that he made was, “I was the first to see all of this hoax, these lies.” “I have been an active participant in clarifying this company that has been operating for a year and with which I have given four or five conferences and transmitted the values of sport to young people. I have been contributing to the clarification of this company.”
“I am very calm, and I want to categorically reject all of the lies that we have become accustomed to hearing over the past few months.”
Not only did Montero confirm that he intends to take legal action in response to the allegations, but he also discussed the impact that the allegations have had on his family.
“This attack is a problem that has been going on for a long time,” he said in conclusion. “What hurts me the most is not me, but that this is getting out of hand and affecting my family.”
The Spanish Football Federation has issued a statement condemning the “repulsive” abuse that Montero has been subjected to since the match between Real Madrid and Osasuna that took place on Saturday.
“The professional referees are absolutely repulsed by the attacks and threats that our colleague Jose Luis Munuera Montero is receiving through social networks,” they stated in a statement that was released.
“These attacks add to the hatred and verbal violence through which we have to carry out our professional work every weekend, and that in the base categories becomes, even more regrettably, physical violence in many cases.”
