A former La Liga referee, Xavier Estrada, has revealed that he was threatened with a possible ban after he showed a red card to Cristiano Ronaldo when the Portuguese star was playing for Real Madrid. His comments have sparked fresh debate about pressure and influence in top-level football.
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Estrada said the incident occurred in 2009, when he sent Ronaldo off in a La Liga match. Shortly after the game, he received a call from the head of the referees’ committee who expressed strong displeasure with the decision and hinted that there would be consequences for his career. Estrada later went almost two years without being assigned to referee Real Madrid matches after that red card.
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“It exposed a ‘dark side’ of football that people don’t want to know about,” Estrada said, pointing to pressures referees can face at the highest level of the sport. He said such pressures come from the fear of backlash, reputation damage, and influence from powerful clubs and media when big-name players are sent off.
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Ronaldo, who played for Real Madrid from 2009 to 2018, was known for his high-profile performances, and the red card remains a memorable moment in La Liga history. Estrada’s remarks highlight ongoing concerns about referee independence and the treatment of officials in modern football.
Tribuna
The revelations have added to broader debates in football over transparency, integrity, and the protection of match officials, especially in games involving major clubs and star players.
