After His Nasty Foul on Kylian Mbappé, Carlos Romero Reveals: “I Told Him…”

In a match that will be remembered for its intensity, the clash between Espanyol Barcelona and Real Madrid on La Liga’s 22nd matchday was marred by a shocking incident involving Kylian Mbappé. Carlos Romero, the left-back for Espanyol, made a controversial tackle on the French forward that has since dominated headlines across Spain. The incident not only sparked fierce debate about the severity of the challenge but also brought to light the state of refereeing in La Liga, which continues to be a hotbed for controversy.

The match, which saw Espanyol earn a crucial victory, was already filled with tension as the Madrid squad faced off against a team determined to fight for survival in La Liga. With Real Madrid desperate to secure points in the race for the top spot, the match’s outcome was pivotal. Yet, it was the 61st-minute tackle on Mbappé that would leave an indelible mark on the game.

As Real Madrid launched a rapid counter-attack, the French star found himself sprinting down the field, well ahead of the Espanyol defense. Romero, who had been chasing Mbappé the entire way, found himself in a hopeless position. Unable to catch up with the pace of the striker, Romero resorted to a reckless challenge that sent Mbappé crashing to the ground. The tackle was both unnecessary and dangerous, a foul that could have resulted in a serious injury.

Despite the severity of the challenge, referee Alejandro Muniz Ruiz made the shocking decision to issue only a yellow card to Romero. Many believed that the tackle deserved a straight red card, particularly given the violent nature of the challenge and the potential risk to Mbappé’s health. However, the referee’s decision not only left the Madrid team and fans fuming, but also raised questions about the consistency and quality of officiating in La Liga.

To make matters worse, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which is supposed to correct clear and obvious errors, failed to intervene. This oversight left everyone in the football world scratching their heads, as many wondered how such a dangerous challenge could go unpunished by both the referee and VAR. The decision sparked widespread outrage, particularly among Real Madrid supporters, who felt that justice had not been served.

In the aftermath of the match, Romero addressed the incident in an interview with DAZN Spain. The Espanyol defender, who had already scored the game’s only goal in the 85th minute to give his team a vital 1-0 victory, admitted that the challenge on Mbappé was far from ideal. “It was a tough match. We knew we were going to suffer, but we fought until the end,” Romero explained. He continued, “It’s impossible to stop Kylian Mbappé. The foul was nasty, I know. I didn’t like what I did. I apologised to him. That was it, and it didn’t go any further.”

Romero’s candid admission only fueled the controversy further. While it was commendable that the defender acknowledged the severity of the foul and offered an apology, the fact that the tackle had gone unpunished on the field left many questioning the integrity of the officiating. In a league that has faced its share of refereeing scandals in recent years, this incident was yet another example of how inconsistent decision-making continues to plague Spanish football.

The challenge itself, and the subsequent fallout, became a focal point for the media, with many Spanish outlets questioning whether the refereeing in La Liga had reached an all-time low. The failure to take action on such a blatant foul, particularly in a match involving one of the league’s biggest stars, was seen by many as an alarming trend. Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid, has long been vocal about his frustration with Spanish referees, and this latest controversy only served to add fuel to the fire.

For Real Madrid, the defeat in this match was particularly painful. Not only had they failed to secure the three points they so desperately needed, but the injury risk to their star player, Mbappé, was a major concern. Thankfully, Mbappé appeared to recover from the challenge, and after receiving treatment, he was able to continue playing. But the incident served as a stark reminder of the dangers players face when referees fail to take appropriate action in high-stakes matches.

As the match progressed, it became clear that Espanyol had come prepared to defend at all costs. With their survival in La Liga at risk, they employed a strategy that focused heavily on physical play and tight defending. Real Madrid, on the other hand, struggled to break down the defensive walls and were left frustrated by the lack of space and opportunities to capitalize on their attacking prowess. Despite the challenge of facing a resolute defense, the Madrid players were left even more agitated by the referee’s failure to act on Romero’s dangerous tackle.

In the aftermath of the match, the discussion turned not only to the tackle but also to the state of officiating in Spain. With La Liga’s reputation for controversial refereeing decisions continuing to grow, many pundits and former players called for a review of the current system. Some suggested that more transparency was needed in the VAR process to ensure that such egregious errors do not go unnoticed.

As Real Madrid now prepares for the next phase of their season, the fallout from this match will undoubtedly linger. Ancelotti’s men have a series of high-profile matches ahead, including key fixtures in the Copa del Rey, the Madrid derby, and the Champions League. The importance of maintaining their focus and avoiding further setbacks, particularly in the face of controversial officiating, is more important than ever.

In the end, Romero’s actions, though regrettable, have brought to light the ongoing issues with refereeing in La Liga. His revelation that he had apologized to Mbappé for the foul may have helped calm tensions, but the bigger issue remains: when will La Liga take serious steps to address the inconsistency and poor decision-making that continues to plague the competition?

The future of refereeing in Spain remains uncertain, and with every weekend bringing new controversies to light, one thing is clear: the debate over fairness, consistency, and transparency in officiating is far from over. For now, Real Madrid and their fans will have to cope with the fallout from this latest incident, hoping that the upcoming matches will see a fairer treatment of their players on the field.