Real Sociedad Appeals Controversial Red Card for Brais Méndez

Real Sociedad has formally appealed the red card handed to Brais Méndez during the match at San Mamés, which the club describes as “outrageous.” They contend that, as evidenced by the footage, the Galician midfielder made minimal contact with Athletic Bilbao defender Aitor Paredes, who exaggerated the situation.

Various replays of the incident indicate that there was prior provocation from Jauregizar, and it appears that referee Cuadra Fernández did not witness the action clearly, as he was positioned with his back to the play. The red card was issued based on the input from one of his assistants, who seems to have misinterpreted the events.

In addition to the unjust nature of the red card, which has drawn criticism from several arbitration analysts, Cuadra Fernández’s official report accused Méndez of “violent conduct for striking an opponent in the face with excessive force while the ball was not in play.” This assertion of excessive force is not only inaccurate but also amplifies the seriousness of the action, potentially leading to a suspension of more than one match.