Oviedo fuming over referee decisions as penalty shout falls on deaf ears
Real Oviedo have issued a rare official statement criticizing recent refereeing decisions after a controversial handball incident against Osasuna went unpunished.
The boys at Real Oviedo are absolutely raging after what they feel is yet another dodgy refereeing performance, this time from Quintero González who waved away their handball shout against Osasuna despite checking the VAR monitor.
Handball controversy sparks outrage
The incident in question came in the 80th minute when Boyomo appeared to handle the ball in the area. Despite the referee consulting the pitchside monitor, no penalty was given - leaving Oviedo players and staff absolutely gutted.
Striker Fede Viñas revealed a telling moment after the match: “The Osasuna player himself told me he touched it with his hand.” Talk about a proper liberty!
Hassan didn’t hold back either, suggesting there’s been a pattern forming: “For a couple of matches now, we’ve had refereeing decisions go against us. It seems very easy to blow the whistle against Oviedo.”
Club issues rare official statement
What makes this particularly noteworthy is that the club itself has broken its usual diplomatic stance. Just hours after the final whistle, Real Oviedo released an official statement - something they’ve typically avoided even when under the current Grupo Pachuca ownership.
The statement expressed “deep discomfort and concern” about recent officiating, with the club particularly vexed about inconsistent decision-making across different matches. They’ve specifically called out the lack of “uniform criteria” which they believe creates an “evident feeling of inequality.”
To their credit, Oviedo made it clear this wasn’t just sour grapes or an excuse for poor results, emphasizing the team still needs to “keep working with determination to improve results.”
Respect demanded
The bread and butter of their complaint centers on one word: respect. The club feels this has been lacking in recent weeks and has explicitly demanded “the application of fair, equitable and consistent criteria in decision-making.”
The timing couldn’t be more crucial for Oviedo, who are fighting for survival in La Liga. Despite the controversy, the club made a point of praising their players’ professionalism and commitment, as well as thanking their supporters who they’ll need more than ever in their relegation battle.
It’s not often you see a club that’s traditionally had a decent relationship with officials come out swinging like this - but it seems the powers that be at the Carlos Tartiere have finally had their fill. The question now is whether their complaints will fall on deaf ears or actually make a difference in future matches.