Here we show you some of the biggest controversies in La Liga History
La Liga is the top professional football league in Spain, and one of the biggest sports leagues in the world. It has been surrounded by various controversies over the years.
Below are some of the controversies that have surrounded La Liga in recent years. Despite these incidents, the league remains one of the most popular and highly-regarded football leagues in the world.
There have been no issues with the league’s history, with millions of fans tuning in to watch the top teams and players in action.
Controversies In La Liga
10. Barcelona’s Transfer Ban
In 2014, Barcelona was banned from making transfers for two consecutive windows for violating FIFA’s rules regarding the transfer of minors.
The club was found guilty of bringing young players from outside of Spain to join their youth academy.
9. Messi’s Tax Evasion Case
In 2016, Lionel Messi and his father were found guilty of tax fraud and sentenced to 21 months in prison. They were accused of defrauding the Spanish government of over 4 million euros in taxes related to Messi’s image rights.
8. The “Barca Gate” Scandal
In 2018, a Spanish radio station revealed that Barcelona’s then-president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his staff hired a company to tarnish the image of current and former players, coaches and other club figures on social media.
7. The “Spanish Football League Gate” Scandal
In 2020, a report revealed that the Spanish Football League (LFP) had been involved in a corruption scandal, with the league being accused of accepting bribes in exchange for awarding television rights to certain companies.
6. The Super League Controversy
In 2021, a group of twelve European clubs, including six La Liga clubs (Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Real Sociedad, and Athletic Bilbao), announced their intention to form a breakaway Super League.
The announcement was met with widespread opposition from fans, players, and authorities, and the project was eventually abandoned.
5. Real Madrid’s “Ghost Goal” Controversy
In 2018, Real Madrid’s Casemiro scored a goal against Juventus in the Champions League quarter-finals, which was controversially awarded despite the ball not appearing to have fully crossed the line.
The incident sparked a debate about the use of VAR technology in football.
4. The “Bale Gate” Scandal
In 2013, Gareth Bale’s move from Tottenham to Real Madrid became one of the most expensive transfers in football history.
However, the transfer was surrounded by controversy, with reports suggesting that the Welshman had used underhanded tactics to force the move through.
3. The “Piqué Gate” Scandal
In 2014, Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué was caught up in a controversy after he was seen participating in an online poker tournament during a La Liga match. Piqué was heavily criticized for his actions and was eventually forced to apologize.
2. The “Referee Gate” Scandal
In 2013, a number of high-profile La Liga referees were implicated in a match-fixing scandal, with allegations of bribery and corruption being made against them.
The controversy sparked widespread outrage and led to several referees being banned from the sport.
1. The “Ronaldo Gate” Scandal
In 2021, Barcelona’s Ronald Koeman was accused of making discriminatory remarks about minority groups during a press conference.
The incident sparked widespread outrage and calls for the Dutchman to be sacked, with Koeman eventually apologizing for his actions.