Controversy Surrounds Red Card Decision Against Brais Méndez

Erik Bretos, the football director, has expressed his discontent regarding the decision made by referee Cuadra Fernández to issue a direct red card to Brais Méndez without reviewing the incident on the pitch or utilizing VAR. This latter point has particularly astonished him, given the circumstances surrounding the action that took place at San Mamés.

Bretos addressed the red card incident involving Brais Méndez during the derby match, which was still at a score of 0-1. He remarked, “This is a red card decision that I find extremely difficult to understand. First and foremost, I acknowledge that officiating is incredibly challenging, but refereeing without having seen the play is even more complex. We always say that we need to support the referees, and I wholeheartedly agree; therefore, it is difficult for me to comprehend that, if the referee did not see the incident, we do not utilize all available means to assist him, as it is clear that the referee did not witness the play.”

As noted yesterday in MARCA, there is also confusion within Real Sociedad regarding the report’s wording, which does not accurately reflect the interaction between Paredes and Brais Méndez, also involving Jauregizar. “Based on the wording in the report, their interpretation of the event does not align with what actually transpired. Discussing violent conduct and excessive force seems challenging to justify for anyone observing the play. This decision significantly influenced a match that we had under control. I struggle to understand not just the referee’s specific error, but the lack of support we provide him with all the resources we have at our disposal.”