Sevilla defender Hedwiges Maduro believes there is a serious problem with the standard of refereeing in La Liga this season.
The Dutch international was signed from Valencia at the start of this campaign after four years at Mestalla, having begun his career in the Eredivisie with Ajax, and feels it is imperative officials in Spain improve.
“I think there is a serious problem because in every game there is controversy and I don’t understand it because it’s not normal,” the 27-year-old told Diario de Sevilla.
“The referee must whistle for 90 minutes and can make mistakes, but the worse thing is that these errors are always decisive.
“If you analyse it something occurs in every game. In the Malaga-Betis game there was an offside goal and something strange happened in the Madrid-Depor match…there is always something.
“Players sometimes have to improve their relationship with referees but it is the officials themselves who have to improve the most, and I think they must do that in a lot of things.
“Our boss [Michel] is another example. He did not say anything [after being sent to the stands against Barcelona]. These are basic things and the referees must do better.”
Maduro says there is proof that Spanish referees have a bad reputation not only in their own country but across Europe, where they lag behind their counterparts.
“There aren’t many Spanish referees officiating in Europe and that’s a sign. In Holland, for example, there are four or five who are refereeing in the Champions League and Europa League. Or even in France…there is the same number.
“That tells you what their performances are like and the standard of refereeing here in Spain. Therefore, I say they must improve. In the end it will be better for La Liga and better for them.”
He feels there is also a big difference in what is permitted in La Liga and what is allowed in other European Leagues.
“You always feel that referees in Spain do not allow a lot of things. That’s the image of Spanish referees abroad, the same as in England they let things go more, so it’s very difficult at times.
“When I was at Ajax it surprised me if the referee showed me a straight red card. I was not used to it and it’s not a great problem in Europe, only in Spain.”
Asked if the major decisions tended to favour the big clubs, Maduro said he was convinced that was the case but claimed there are some decisions that are even hard to fathom in El Clasico.
“I do feel they favour the big teams. I felt that way at Valencia and also after our game this season with Barcelona. It matters because ultimately they are decisive errors. I saw it many times at Valencia when we played Barcelona or Real Madrid.
“I feel at times they give the most comfortable decision and sometimes it’s like that in El Clasico. There are players who have already received a card then commit another three fouls and nothing happens.
“Are they afraid to send a player off in El Clasico? If it’s a foul it’s a foul and you’ve got to give it along with the suitable punishment.
“If not, another player is going to do the same thing as he knows he won’t get a red [card], so he goes and does it.”
Maduro considers that the problem may lie in a lack of authority by the refereeing establishment.
“It could be that. There are some things they do where they need to look in the mirror because they need to officiate as well as they possibly can.
“However, the bottom line is that all of us need to improve, particularly the referees,” he concluded.
