Atlético Strikes Again: "Let's See Who Dares to Deliver Justice Knowing They Could Be Next"

Atlético Madrid has once again taken to social media to criticize what they perceive as Real Madrid's machinery putting referees in the spotlight. Following a week filled with ironic tweets about Real Madrid's pressure on the refereeing community ahead of the derby, Atlético posted another message with a clear undertone this Tuesday. This was in response to reports suggesting a potential conflict of interest involving José Luis Munuera Montero, the referee from Jaén who officiated the controversial Osasuna-Real Madrid match.

"The machinery has been in motion for weeks and crushes everything in its path. Let's see who dares to deliver justice knowing they could be next..." Additionally, the red-and-white club uses the hashtag #StopAcosoArbitralYa and tags the official accounts of the Spanish Football Federation (FEF), Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), LaLiga, and the Higher Sports Council (CSD).

This is not Atlético's first reference to Real Madrid's media harassment of the refereeing body. "Friends of the RAE (Royal Spanish Academy), these days we are being asked a lot about a matter and we don't want to make a mistake. Can you help us with the nuances of the following verbs?: pressure, intimidate, coerce, frighten, influence, impose. Thank you very much!" the club posted on its social media on February 5th after Real Madrid's letter to the FEF protesting the refereeing after their previous league defeat against Espanyol. "The decisions against Real Madrid have reached a level of manipulation and adulteration of the competition that can no longer be ignored," wrote the white club.

Atlético also added a message at 19:03 that same day (the club was founded in 1903 and often uses the time as a reference) with a clear allusion to Real Madrid TV and its usual programming against referees: "Using your official television, once again, to pressure referees." And on February 6th, Atlético included a new section, with a projectile aimed directly at the media: "Using your army of 'friendly journalists' to spread your delusions."