In that match, several refereeing decisions left Mallorca and their fans furious.
When asked about the Barcelona-Mallorca refereeing controversy in La Liga, Xabi Alonso didn’t want to go too deep into the matter. However, the Real Madrid coach agreed with Mallorca boss Jagoba Arrasate’s post-match remarks.
Last Saturday, Barcelona kicked off their La Liga title defense with a 3-0 away win at Mallorca.
The game saw plenty of controversial moments, especially in the first half when Mallorca were reduced to nine men. Some of the referee’s calls during that period enraged both the Mallorca players and the home supporters inside the stadium.
The most debated incident came when Ferran Torres was awarded a goal. After heading in Lamine Yamal’s fast-paced shot, Mallorca captain Antonio Raíllo went down on the ground. The referee didn’t stop play, and since the home team couldn’t clear the ball, Torres calmly slotted it into the net from outside the box.
Mallorca coach Arrasate was livid that play wasn’t stopped after his captain went down. His protests earned him a yellow card.
After the game, Arrasate openly voiced his frustration.
“We all saw what happened. In last week’s briefing, they explained to us that if someone suffers a head injury, the game will be stopped.”
“We all thought he (the referee) had blown the whistle, but instead, he gave the goal. I really don’t understand it. He then said Raíllo didn’t appear to have a head issue, but how could he know that?”
Real Madrid begin their bid to reclaim the La Liga crown on Tuesday against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu. The day before, Alonso was asked about the refereeing row in the Barcelona-Mallorca game. The Spanish coach kept his response brief.
“It’s not my job to comment on what happens in other teams’ matches, but I heard what Jagoba Arrasate said, and I think he explained it very well.”
Alonso also weighed in on another hot topic. Just a day after the Royal Spanish Football Federation approved Barcelona’s La Liga clash with Villarreal to be played in Miami this December, Real Madrid released a statement opposing the plan. Alonso backed the club’s stance.
“I fully agree with the club’s position. If the rules are to be changed, it must be done with the agreement of all clubs. In this case, that didn’t happen.”
La Liga has been trying for years to stage a competitive league match in the United States. For the current plan to go ahead, it still requires approval from UEFA, the U.S. Soccer Federation, CONCACAF, and finally FIFA.
If FIFA gives the green light, it would mark the first-ever official league match from Europe’s top competitions to be played abroad.
