The video referee for the Valencia-Real Madrid game, which took place on Sunday amid racist insults towards Vinicius, has been replaced in his duties for the next matchday in La Liga, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) announced on Tuesday in a statement.
According to the press, Nacho Iglesias Villanueva has been removed from his position as referee by the RFEF. The federation, consulted by AFP, did not wish to confirm this information. Appointed for two matches on the next day of the championship, he was finally replaced on Tuesday.
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“Following a decision by the RFEF Technical Arbitral Committee, a change will occur in the VAR designation of the Betis Sevilla – Getafe match of the 36th day of the first division. Cesar Soto Grado replaces Nacho Iglesias Villanueva. In addition, Angel Nevado Rodriguez replaces Nacho Iglesias Villanueva as VAR assistant for the Osasuna – Athletic Bilbao match of the 36th day, “explained the RFEF on Tuesday.
Iglesias Villanueva was in charge of the video arbitration during the match won (1-0) by Valencia against Real, which was the scene of insults of all kinds, including racist, towards the Brazilian striker from Madrid, Vinicius.
At the end of the match, twenty minutes after the incidents which interrupted the game for several minutes around the 70th minute for racist insults, a scuffle between Hugo Duro and Vinicius required the field referee (Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea) to go watch the action on video.
But Nacho Iglesias Villanueva only showed replays of the gesture which earned the Brazilian striker a direct red card, failing to broadcast footage of Valencia player Hugo Duro who previously held Vinicius by the neck for a long time in a gesture resembling a strangulation.
This layoff comes as Spain and the world of football have been revolting since Sunday evening against the multiple racist attacks suffered by Vinicius. Real Madrid filed a complaint and the Spanish courts opened an investigation on Monday.
In Rio de Janeiro, on the night of Monday to Tuesday, the statue of Christ the Redeemer, the Corcovado, was extinguished for an hour in support of Vinicius.
