Bellingham Fans Find Referee’s Ruling Against Their Team Reprehensible

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Jude Bellingham was sent off in the 39th minute against Osasuna.

Published 18 February 2025

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has strongly condemned the “repulsive” abuse faced by referee Jose Munuera Montero following his decision to send off Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham. During Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Osasuna, Bellingham was shown a straight red card for using foul language.

Since then, Montero has received significant harassment on social media, and his family has also become targets of abuse. “The professional referees are absolutely repulsed by the attacks and threats that our colleague Jose Luis Munuera Montero is receiving through social networks,” the RFEF stated in a press release.

The federation highlighted how these incidents add to the already existing issues of hatred and verbal violence directed at officials, noting that this kind of behavior becomes particularly concerning when it escalates into physical violence in lower leagues.

Speaking about his actions on Saturday, Bellingham emphasized that there was no intent to insult referee Montero. “He believed that I said [something insulting] to him,” Bellingham explained. “There was no intent to insult him; there was no insult at all. That’s why you can see there was a misunderstanding.”

Following this incident, Bellingham now faces the prospect of a lengthy suspension. At a crucial time for Real Madrid, who have allowed a seven-point lead to slip at the top of La Liga standings, the timing could not be worse.

The team has been winless in their last three league matches and is currently level on points with rival Barcelona but stands second due to their superior goal difference. The situation highlights how such incidents can severely impact both individual referees and entire football clubs at significant junctures in the season.