Gimnastic accuses referee of lying to secure promotion
- Gimnastic accused referee Eder Mallo Fernandez of lying and favoring Malaga during a crucial play-off match.
- The match, which ended in a draw, resulted in Gimnastic losing out on promotion after claims of referee bias arose.
- Gimnastic's actions have initiated a larger conversation about referee conduct and accountability in football.
In Spain, Gimnastic made history by becoming the first football club to file a criminal complaint against a referee, Eder Mallo Fernandez. This unprecedented action followed their contentious match against Malaga on June 22, during which Gimnastic was aiming for promotion to the second tier. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, leading to a 4-3 aggregate loss for Gimnastic after extra time. The referee’s performance came under scrutiny, especially after Gimnastic was reduced to nine players, with Malaga scoring the decisive goal in the 129th minute. The situation escalated when Eder Mallo Fernandez claimed in his match report that he feared for his safety after the game, which resulted in Gimnastic being forced to play four matches behind closed doors. However, Gimnastic vehemently denied Fernandez’s assertions and presented evidence, including recordings suggesting that his claims were fabricated. Reports indicate that Fernandez stated the environment outside his dressing room was uncomfortable but was informed that no one would enter. In addition to this evidence, Gimnastic also accused Fernandez of unfairly favoring Malaga, allegedly to secure his own promotion to the second tier with an increased salary. They pointed to evidence obtained from a private investigation, indicating that Fernandez's conduct might have indicated a predetermined outcome of the match. A recorded conversation with a friend allegedly revealed that Fernandez had made remarks about Gimnastic players, raising suspicions about his impartiality during the match. Finally, the situation led Gimnastic to employ former top-flight referee Xavier Estrada Fernández to review the match. He reportedly discovered over thirteen significant officiating errors, particularly those involving actions by Malaga players that warranted yellow cards yet went unpunished. This series of events has sparked a significant outcry in Spanish football, bringing referee accountability into the spotlight and raising questions about sports integrity.