After the Catalan team player’s controversial statements about DAZN, the committee’s ruling came.
He attracted attention when Girona footballer David López denounced referee Ortíz’s insults Arias During the break of the match, the Catalan team faced Almería, for the tenth matchday of LaLiga. Two hours later, the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) denied it and requested a public correction.
Statement by David López
“I respect everyone’s work, but the bad manners and the arrogance… I think all the players of the First Division will agree. You can’t work like that, it’s very difficult. You try to concentrate on the game , but it is difficult.” You have no respect, he insults you. It’s hard to work like that. You have to try to forget about the game and concentrate on it because the work is complicated,” said David López during the match break in front of the DAZN cameras.
“I am referring to the referee, Miguel Ángel. I think the players of the First Division already know him. It is an issue that is more human than professional. We all work and you can always say a louder word than the other, but don’t be disrespectful, don’t insult… We are all in this together,” he added.
Apologies from Michel
Girona coach Míchel Sánchez asked the referee at a press conference for “forgiveness” for David López’s words during half-time. Míchel said the player told him the referee had insulted him and that Ortiz Arias called him after the match to talk “because he was concerned about the statements.”
“He told me that he has not offended anyone. I told him that if he had not offended, I would ask for his forgiveness. He has been a heat on the pitch and he must stay there, for both parties.”
Míchel pointed out that David López “was very hot” and that he hopes he will not receive any sanctions as he is “an example as a professional and as a person on and off the field. He has been a professional for many years and his behavior is flawless.” “We can all make mistakes but it was hot and half-time and I hope it stays that way. I don’t think there will be any form of sanction, because he did not speak about the referee in a negative way, about his performance, but simply about a personal feeling,” said Michel.
The CTA statement
“Once the CTA has listened to the full audio of the Girona-Almería match, recorded as indicated in the VAR protocol, it would like to report that at no time did the match referee, Mr. Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias, insult or violate respect. player no. to listen to the audio of the match at CTA headquarters. Once the hearing is over, we will request a public correction in the same terms in which he made his statements.”
Source: Goal