Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal is facing possible disciplinary action after a remark he made to referee Alejandro Quintero González was officially documented in La Liga’s match report. The incident occurred after Real Madrid’s 0–2 defeat to Celta Vigo, a match that descended into chaos with multiple red cards and confrontations involving players and staff.
According to the referee’s written report, Carvajal approached Quintero González at the final whistle and said, “This is the standard you’ve set, and then you’ll go pretend to be the victims in the press conference.” Because the referee himself filed this quote as part of the official documentation, it now forms part of La Liga’s permanent disciplinary record.
The remark immediately drew the attention of the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee, which enforces sanctions under the RFEF Disciplinary Code. Article 124, which covers “insults or offensive expressions directed at a match official,” typically carries a suspension of between two and four matches when applied to players who participate in the game. However, Carvajal was not part of the matchday squad due to injury and therefore could not be booked or sent off at the time. As a result, disciplinary experts in Spain expect that while his conduct will likely lead to punishment, it may not come in the form of a sporting suspension but rather a financial sanction or an equivalent penalty deemed appropriate for an unavailable player.
The context surrounding the incident was unusually tense. Real Madrid had three players sent off, including Álvaro Carreras, who was dismissed after telling the referee “You’re terrible,” a remark that almost certainly guarantees him a multi-match suspension. Endrick was also shown a red card from the bench after a heated confrontation with the fourth official. The cumulative effect of these events, combined with the hostile atmosphere inside the Bernabéu that night, contributed to a match report unusually heavy with disciplinary remarks, making it one of the most controversial fixtures of Madrid’s season.
The Disciplinary Committee is expected to evaluate all incidents in the coming days, and while players who were sent off will receive standard suspensions, Carvajal’s case will be reviewed separately because of his injured status. Even so, the fact that his statement was formally reported by the referee makes action almost inevitable. For Real Madrid, the fallout adds to a growing list of disciplinary troubles and deepens scrutiny over the team’s behaviour in high-pressure matches, at a moment when the squad is already weakened by injuries, suspensions and inconsistent performances.
