An assistant referee has alleged pressure was put on the team set to officiate in November’s Clasico to favour Real Madrid.
Sport reports the allegations first surfaced in Catalan publication L’Esportiu and COPE are also running with the claims.
The Guardia Civil are said to be investigating after the lawyer for the assistant referee took the matter to the Anticorruption Office.
It’s alleged, Sport continues, that another referee told the assistant that he had been ordered to favour Madrid over Barcelona.
The matter has reportedly been with the Barcelona Anticorruption prosecutor since earlier in October when the Jacinto Vicente, the lawyer representing the official, submitted a report on the official’s allegations.
The name and details of the assistant referee were not included in the report has he wishes to remain anonymous out of fear going public could put himself or others in harm’s way.
Cadena COPE however allege the individual attempting to exert pressure on the linesman is Jose Angel Jimenez Munoz de Morales, a member of the Referees Technical Committee.
The issue is now with Spanish police, who are investigating.
AS adds via COPE that the assistant claims to have heard of Jimenez Munoz de Morales making similar threats to other officials, and that the exchange took place in mid-September.
