Controversy surrounding match officials shows no sign of going away, with Atletico Villacarlos the latest club to feel aggrieved by a decision over the weekend.
Villacarlos were leading 1-0 going in to the 90th minute when a long ball forward appeared to be punched away by their goalkeeper Telmo Tavares. The referee signalled for a free-kick in their favour, before apparently being persuaded to change his mind by his assistant.
Penya Ciutadella’s David Camps stepped up to convert the spot kick, and secured a point for his side in the Menorca Honor Division match.
Clearly not happy, Villacarlos shared a video of the incident via their social media channels.
Their post read (translated): “A gentleman acting as a lineman, decides to rectify the main referee so that he can score a penalty.
“How long should clubs continue to seek funding to pay for performances like this?
“Rise up, stop playing with the selfless work of so many people behind a team and a club.”
Ongoing issues with match officials and abuse
From afar, the conversation surrounding officiating doesn’t appear to be stopping any time soon. There are regular stories from the Balearics Federation noting incidents against match officials, including threats and misconduct to referees.
Only last month, a match was played between a FFIB select side against CE Mercadal on the island to help promote respect and fair play.
However, it is clear that clubs themselves are running out of patience surrounding decisions that are made. Certainly such a public post and condemnation from Villacarlos in this instance does little to show that progress is being made.
There had already been controversy involving a match official on Menorca this week, with the news that CCE Sant Lluis’ youth team must play a home game behind closed doors and pay a fine of 300 euros following alleged racist insults made to the referee in their recent defeat to Sporting Mahon.
CCE Sant Lluis have appealed the decision. The ‘racist insults’ are alleged to have come from approximately 10 fans of the home team, according to the referee’s report.
Incidents involving officials are not new to the island. Back in 2022, then champions elect CD Menorca saw their game at home to CE Alaior abandoned in the 87th minute due to the assistant referee reporting he had been spat on and received death threats.
Earlier that year, an entire weekend of games were postponed to show support for match officials and to try and end the abuse.
Back in 2019, two CE Ferreries players attacked match officials during a game against Sporting Mahon, actions which were condemned by their club.
Matchday Four
That decision cost Atletico Villacarlos their first win of the new Menorca Honor Division season, and they are one of two clubs yet to record a victory after four rounds of the season.
CE Ciutadella remain rooted to the bottom after suffering their third successive defeat, going down 1-0 at home to CCE Sant Lluis.
CD Migjorn sit top of the table thanks to a 2-1 win over fancied CE Alaior, while UD Mahon dropped their first points of the campaign in a 1-0 defeat at CE Ferreries.
Sporting Mahon registered arguably the most eye-catching result of the weekend, winning 4-1 away at CD Menorca to record their first victory of the season and maintain their unbeaten start.
LEAGUE TABLE: Click here to view the latest standings from Menorca
