"We have become the scapegoat for failure": the Spanish Federation stirs controversy with the Madrid derby referee's comments

"We have become the scapegoat for failure": the Spanish federation stirs controversy with comments from the Madrid derby referee Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid Atletico Madrid Real Madrid LaLiga Spain Did the federation deliberately respond to Real Madrid's attack in an indirect way?

The Spanish Football Federation stirred up a media controversy after publishing old statements by Ortiz Arias, the referee of the recent Madrid derby, in a message that Spanish newspapers read as a response to Real Madrid's attack over the refereeing incidents that sparked controversy in last Sunday's match.

The referee had spoken about the pressures referees face, stressing that they often become an "easy target" who take the blame for defeats. He also touched on the impact of the Negreira case on the image of Spanish refereeing, and on the resulting increase in the intensity of criticism and violence directed at officials.