Real Madrid’s superstar insisted he had never insulted referee José Luis Munuera Montero. “I never insulted the referee,” Bellingham told reporters. “It was an expression to myself.” Still, footage suggested the Englishman’s frustration boiled over at a crucial moment.

Not long after the match, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) launched an investigation into Munuera Montero’s off-field activities.

Accusations focus on the referee’s business ventures, where he and senior LaLiga and officials share a corporate network that includes and the RFEF itself as clients. Officials are examining whether these links amount to a conflict of interest, which is strictly prohibited under Point 9.1 of the league’s Regulatory Code.

If violations are proven, Munuera Montero could face a ban from officiating for up to five years and a fine of roughly $106,000.

Referee’s business ties come under the microscope

Munuera Montero helped found a consultancy and sports management company that has drawn big-name clients such as Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. While owning or running a company isn’t inherently forbidden, it can raise concerns if the referee’s professional decisions appear compromised. The RFEF, aware of the potential for undue influence, removed Munuera Montero from upcoming matches pending the probe’s outcome.

These allegations arrived at the worst possible time. The referee has reportedly received threats from fans angered by Bellingham’s dismissal, prompting the RFEF to condemn the abuse in a public statement. “The professional referees are absolutely repulsed by the attacks and threats that our colleague José Luis Munuera Montero is receiving,” read one part of the federation’s response. Such turmoil reflects growing tension between officiating bodies and clubs, with Real Madrid especially vocal about perceived unfairness in LaLiga.

Bellingham now faces his own reckoning. The league’s disciplinary panel could sideline him for several matches, though some in the Real Madrid camp believe the decision was based on miscommunication. Head coach backs his player, calling the incident a misunderstanding. Meanwhile, the referee at the center of the storm awaits the final word on whether his off-field ties have undermined the impartiality the sport demands.