Referee Jose Manuel Munuera Montero has caused all kinds of controversy in Spanish football lately following his questionable refereeing in the Real Madrid vs Osasuna game.
Manuel Montero notably ignored a potential penalty on Vinicius Junior, but more importantly, handed Jude Bellingham a straight red in the first half following a supposed dissent – a decision that greatly impacted the result of the game.
Real Madrid were left furious with Montero’s refereeing, eventually doubling down their attacks on the refereeing association.
RFEF investigates Manuel Montero
In the wake of recent controversy, RFEF has decided to investigate referee Manuel Montero, reports AS.
It appears the governing body has launched a formal investigation into Montero over potential conflicts of interest related to his off-field business activities.
The investigation is centered around Munuera Montero’s ownership of Talentus Sports, a consultancy and sports management company that reportedly has ties with major football institutions, including LaLiga, UEFA, the RFEF itself.
It also has tie ups with clubs like Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Aston Villa, and PSG.
The Federation’s Compliance Committee is assessing whether these associations violate Article 9.1 of the Regulatory Code, which prohibits referees from having secondary interests that could interfere with their professional duties.
Possible sanctions on the cards?
The report adds that Munuera Montero could face severe consequences if found guilty of breaching regulations.
According to the RFEF’s Code of Ethics, all referees, club officials, and governing body members must avoid conflicts of interest.
If Munuera Montero failed to disclose his external business activities, he could be in violation of these regulations.
Sanctions could include a fine of up to €100,000 and a ban from refereeing for up to five years. That said, the investigation is still in early stages and there is lot left to be done.
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