So, it turns out the referee who sent off Jude Bellingham over the weekend might be in some hot water. An investigation has kicked off, and it looks like a big ban could be on the horizon for him.
Bellingham was clearly upset about a call made by the official during Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Osasuna. He seemed to say to Jose Luis Munuera Montero, “I am talking to you with respect,” but then it looked like he added a not-so-friendly “F*** off” as he walked away.
He was quickly given a red card because the referee thought he was being pretty disrespectful.
Bellingham later said he “never insulted the referee” and explained that his comment “was an expression to myself.” Carlo Ancelotti also emphasised that there was a huge misunderstanding.
They’re looking into Bellingham’s comment and what it really means, but it turns out Montero is under investigation for something else too.
So, AS mentions that Montero, besides being a referee, has also started a consultancy and sports management company. He’s got a bunch of clients, including La Liga, UEFA, RFEF, and clubs like Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain.
RFEF has kicked off a formal investigation to see if there’s a conflict of interest at play. If it turns out that Montero didn’t stick to the proper procedures that referees are supposed to follow, he could face a hefty fine of €100,000 and a five-year ban from refereeing.
According to Point 9.1 of the Regulatory Code, referees and key figures need to keep in mind that they shouldn’t have any secondary interests that could get in the way of doing their jobs properly.
The Federation’s Compliance Committee isn’t quite ready to make a decision yet; they’re still gathering evidence according to the report.
Following the red card controversy, Relevo shared that Montero won’t be officiating any of the 10 matches in the upcoming La Liga matchweek.
Montero faced death threats and abuse after sending off Bellingham, which prompted a statement of support from the RFEF.
“The professional referees are really disturbed by the attacks and threats that our colleague Jose Luis Munuera Montero is facing on social media,” a statement said.
“These attacks just pile on the hatred and verbal violence we deal with in our jobs every weekend, and sadly, in the lower categories, it often turns into physical violence.”
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