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A reporter from Mundo Deportivo posed the follow-up question everyone was waiting for.
"Mr. Simeone, you were implying something earlier. Could you be more specific about who you believe manipulated the referee? Are you suggesting the Spanish Football Association orchestrated this?"
Simeone's expression remained cold.
"I don't know who's responsible. But I can say this with certainty: if we had lost that match, whoever benefited most would be the most suspicious. Do you disagree?" He paused. "Furthermore, I never accused the Football Association. In fact, I'm inclined to believe they're also victims—deceived by certain individuals. So please don't misinterpret my words. I have witnesses for everything I've said today. If you publish something different from what I actually stated, I will make you pay for it."
With that, Simeone left the press conference.
There was much to be done. His attack on the referee would certainly invite punishment from the Association. But the severity of that punishment would depend entirely on which side the Association chose to support.
The moment Simeone had been sent off, he'd already contacted the club.
CEO Gil Marín immediately began reaching out to other clubs—including, remarkably, Real Madrid. Gil Marín understood that for this matter to resolve in Atlético's favour, Florentino Pérez had to step forward.
The two men spoke for half an hour. No one knew what was said.
But the developments that followed were unmistakably favourable to Atlético Madrid.
Minutes after the press conference ended, a story broke online.
The call records of match referee Melero López had been leaked. One number was circled: the private phone of Barcelona's general manager, Mateu Alemany. The timestamp showed the call had occurred exactly thirty minutes before kick-off.
The leak spread across every major website within the hour.
Then came a second leak.
Alemany's own call records. Another number highlighted: Luis Medina Cantalejo, head of the Technical Committee of Referees. The call had lasted less than three minutes—and had occurred immediately before Alemany's conversation with López.
While the story exploded online, the Football Association was holding an emergency meeting to discuss Simeone's punishment.
Cantalejo spoke with righteous indignation.
"This is slander! A campaign to blacken the name of our referees! I demand a severe penalty. Otherwise, where is the Referee Committee's credibility? If every manager behaves this way when they face adversity, what precedent does that set? I recommend a ten-match suspension and a public apology to Melero."
An aide approached the Association president and whispered something in his ear.
"Mr. Cantalejo," another executive interjected, "perhaps you could help us understand what these call records are about?"
"What of it? What does a private call prove?"
"A private call? You make it sound so simple. Do you expect us to believe this is coincidence?"
"You're making accusations without evidence. You'll be held responsible—"
"Enough." The Association president cut in. "Luis, check your phone. Another set of records has been leaked. Perhaps you'd like to explain this one as well."
Cantalejo's face went pale. He pulled out his phone. When he saw that his own call with Alemany was now public, his expression turned ashen.
The other executives exchanged knowing glances.
"Furthermore, Luis," the president continued, his tone dangerously mild, "my assistant just informed me that Florentino Pérez has called to invite me for coffee. And Cerezo from Atlético Madrid. And Aperribay from Real Sociedad. Also representatives from Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao, Valencia—ten other clubs in total. All wanting to have coffee with me." He smiled thinly. "Since when did our Association's coffee become so famous?"
Cantalejo sat in silence, unable to respond.
Spain's refereeing controversies were well-known across European football. The Association nominally governed both the Competition Committee and the Referee Committee, but in practice, the two departments were constantly at war—and both caused the Association endless headaches.
This incident had clearly been engineered behind the scenes. The man who'd challenged Cantalejo was the head of the Competition Committee.
But the Association had grown tired of the Referee Committee's problems. Now that someone had handed them a knife, it cost nothing to use it. The Competition Committee's issues could wait. First, the Referee Committee had to be dealt with.
Association president Luis Rubiales made his decision.
"Luis. Resign."
The words hit Cantalejo like a physical blow.
"I will contact the clubs," Rubiales continued. "This matter ends here. Understood?"
The meaning was clear: surrender power, take the fall, walk away quietly. Refuse, and things would get much worse.
Cantalejo had no choice. He knew exactly what would happen if he resisted.
"Then it's settled." Rubiales addressed the room. "Diego Simeone receives a three-match suspension and a ten-thousand-euro fine for his conduct toward match officials. Melero López is removed from La Liga and demoted to the second division. Luis Cantalejo's resignation will be announced immediately. We hold a press conference today. I'll contact the clubs to ensure this ends here. The new head of the Referee Committee will be discussed later."
Within hours, the Association held its press conference. Simeone's punishment and Cantalejo's resignation were announced. The referee's demotion was not mentioned publicly.
Atlético Madrid held their own conference shortly after. Simeone expressed "great regret" for acting on impulse and stated he accepted the punishment.
Other stories conveniently flooded the front pages of Spanish media, diverting attention.
A crisis in Spanish football had been resolved.
Behind closed doors, of course. As these things always were.
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