Real Madrid has been pretty open about their unhappiness with how La Liga games have been officiated as of late. The players, manager, and even the club's media channels have all been talking about it.

Just recently, club president Florentino Perez jumped into the discussion. He criticized the refereeing and suggested that the Negreira scandal might still be having an impact on the club.

Understandably, these comments didn't sit well with the referees and their association in Spain. The Spanish Association of Football Referees (AESAF) has officially released a lengthy statement to push back against Perez.

Here's what the statement said:

The Spanish Association of Football Referees (AESAF) wants to say that we disagree with the recent public comments made by Real Madrid President Florentino Perez. This kind of talk does a lot of damage to the reputation of referees and Spanish football. This was aimed directly at the Real Madrid president.

The statement went on to say that referees do their jobs with complete transparency and professionalism and that Perez's accusations have no basis.

In the Negreira Case, no referee has been investigated or charged at all during the judicial process. "We can't accept the accusation of corruption against referees as valid," it continued.

The refereeing body also clarified that referees can't be blamed for what happens on the field and showed their support for all referees, especially those singled out by Real Madrid.

We believe that refereeing shouldn't be a scapegoat for game results. Games are won and lost on the field.

AESAF supports our colleague Pablo González Fuertes and all referees in Spain, whose work deserves respect both professionally and personally.

They also directly addressed Los Blancos about accusations made during last season’s Copa del Rey.

We want to state that the accusation of threats made at the press conference of the Final of the Copa del Rey for the 2024–25 season is not true, to say the least.

[They] were meant to point out that violence against referees and their families at all levels of Spanish football had reached unacceptable levels.

The statement then noted that any accusations against referees can lead to violence against them on the field and hurt their image. They added that they're doing everything they can to be transparent.

Specifically talking about Real Madrid, the AESAF mentioned the harm they're causing to referees.

It's a serious issue that this club keeps making statements that aren't based on reality, which could create an unsporting environment in Spanish competition.

They repeated that no referee has been found guilty in the Negreira case.

As of today, there is no charge or investigation of referees during the entire instruction period. So it's important to stick to the principle of innocent until proven guilty to avoid statements that could mislead the public.

They thanked the clubs, organizations, and players who have supported them during this time and asked that prominent figures take more responsibility for what they say.

Near the end, the AESAF said that they're working with clubs and the RFEF to keep improving refereeing standards.

AESAF mentions that it has been part of the Refereeing Reform Commission for months. This is a continuous discussion promoted by the RFEF, where club representatives can share ideas and concerns and work together in a helpful way.

Real Madrid was not at the most recent meeting.

Using technology like VAR and review protocols helps to reinforce openness and reduce the chance of human error that is part of any sport.

Real Madrid's got a bit of a problem as they get ready for their Copa del Rey game against Talavera. It involves Franco Mastantuono, one of their exciting young players they signed earlier this year.

Mastantuono was supposed to be a big part of the team's future. Now, Xabi Alonso has a selection problem, and he's already dealing with how to handle the squad.

The issue is how Mastantuono is registered. Even though he's around the first team a lot, he's officially listed as a Castilla player.

MARCA says this is a big deal for Copa del Rey games. There are rules about how many young players can start.

So, what's the deal?

Real Madrid can only have Mastantuono and three other young players in the starting lineup.

Since Mastantuono takes up one of those spots, Alonso only has three spots left for Castilla players to start against Talavera. The rest have to be first-team players.

This is happening at a bad time. With injuries and players needing rest, the Copa del Rey would have been a good chance to switch things up and give key players a break.

The funny thing is, Mastantuono can play in the competition. Usually, he’d be one of the first players to start in a game like this. But because he's considered a Castilla player, Alonso can’t try out as many different lineups.

Even with these problems, Alonso is still bringing six Castilla players to Talavera to fill out the team.

Some senior players like Kylian Mbappe, Thibaut Courtois, Antonio Rudiger, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Federico Valverde are probably going to rest.

Fran Gonzalez (goalkeeper), David Jimenez (defender), and Jorge Cestero and Thiago Pitarch (midfielders) are among those called up.

Mastantuono and three of these other young guys could be in the starting lineup.