Mateo Busquets Ferrer has been appointed to referee Real Madrid’s La Liga meeting with Real Sociedad tomorrow, months after his controversial performance in the 2026 Spanish Super Cup semi-final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
The appointment was confirmed by the Refereeing Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, placing Busquets Ferrer back at the centre of attention after several decisions in the Madrid derby led to criticism from Atletico, former officials and sections of the Spanish media.
One of the most debated incidents came in the early stages of the Super Cup semi-final, when Busquets Ferrer awarded Real Madrid a free-kick after Jude Bellingham went down following contact with Conor Gallagher.
Federico Valverde converted the set-piece with an excellent finish, giving Real Madrid the lead. Atletico Madrid protested the decision, arguing that Gallagher had not committed a foul and that the free-kick should not have been awarded.
Former Spanish referee Iturralde Gonzalez supported Atletico’s view in an analysis for Cadena SER, saying: “There is no foul.”
The controversy continued later in the match when Atletico appealed for a penalty after Giuliano Simeone fell inside the area following a challenge involving Eduardo Camavinga. Busquets Ferrer chose not to award a spot-kick and instructed play to continue.
His overall performance was also criticised by refereeing and media outlets. Archivo VAR gave the referee a below-par rating of 3 out of 10, questioning his management of the game and the standards he applied when judging challenges and issuing cards.
Spanish newspaper AS offered a different assessment of Busquets Ferrer’s display, saying Real Madrid had no reason to complain about his decisions. The newspaper argued that several calls worked in Real Madrid’s favour, including the free-kick awarded before Valverde’s goal.
El Nacional adopted a stronger tone, describing the match as one marked by “refereeing controversy” and suggesting that the decisions favoured Real Madrid. It also said the challenge that led to Valverde’s goal did not amount to a foul, while criticising other calls made by Busquets Ferrer during the game.
The referee will now take charge of Real Madrid’s league fixture against Real Sociedad, with his performance likely to attract particular interest because of the debate that followed the most recent Madrid derby.
Busquets Ferrer’s selection means his decisions will be examined closely, especially in any incidents involving challenges inside or around the penalty area. His previous handling of the Super Cup semi-final has ensured that his return to a Real Madrid match comes with added scrutiny.
Readers can discuss the subject and other football news in greater depth in the Kooora forums.
