Real Madrid is caught between bewilderment and outrage over the refereeing decisions surrounding the club this season. Videos published on the club's channel have once again highlighted what Madrid considers a clear contrast between the decisions it receives in Spain and those it faces in European competition.

The difference is evident not only in the controversial incidents, such as the challenges by Cuti Romero and Kang-In Lee during the recent derby, but also in the statistics. Real Madrid's official match report stated that both players escaped red cards for incidents involving Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde.

One of the figures being discussed is the red-card balance in LaLiga since 2001. According to data published following the latest derby, Barcelona has received 172 red cards against opponents while seeing 103 of its own players sent off, giving it a +69 balance. Real Madrid stands at 128 red cards for opponents and 128 against, while Atlético Madrid has a +1 balance.

These figures have also reignited discussion surrounding the Negreira case, although the statistics alone do not establish a causal link between the payments to José María Enríquez Negreira and refereeing decisions. Barcelona made payments to the former CTA vice-president over a 17-year period, an issue that remains the subject of legal proceedings and debate.

The contrast is also being drawn with European competition, where the same period reportedly shows positive red-card balances for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, at +13 and +12 respectively.

Another point of comparison is Valverde's red card in last season's derby at the Bernabéu. Munuera Montero sent off the Uruguayan for his challenge on Álex Baena, leaving Real Madrid with 10 players. The referee later explained that he considered the challenge to involve excessive force and that Valverde had not played the ball.

In the latest derby, however, Valverde was on the receiving end of a challenge from Kang-In Lee that struck his left ankle, with neither a yellow nor a red card shown. Real Madrid's official report described the decision as another major refereeing error.

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