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Nàstic take referee Eder Mallo to court for alleged misrepresentation in the controversial promotion of Málaga

Spanish football is experiencing a new chapter of controversy, this time involving Nàstic de Tarragona and referee Eder Mallo. The Catalan club has filed a criminal complaint against the referee for allegedly falsifying documents and refereeing decisions that, according to them, intentionally harmed Nàstic in the second leg of the playoff for promotion to LaLiga Hypermotion against Málaga.

A match that unleashed a storm

The match, played on 22 June at the Nou Estadi de Tarragona, ended in a 2-2 draw in a match full of controversy. This result allowed Málaga to win promotion thanks to a 4-3 aggregate scoreline. The final goal came in extra time (121st minute), and since then, Nàstic have pointed out serious irregularities in the refereeing.

The Tarragona club's complaints include key decisions such as the sending off of Nacho González in the 63rd minute and a stoppage time they consider excessive, even though the match had been interrupted on several occasions due to balls being thrown onto the pitch from the stands.

Nàstic's accusations

The trigger for the complaint was a report drawn up by the detective agency Método 3, hired by Nàstic, which concludes that Eder Mallo acted in a ‘premeditated’ way to favour Málaga. According to the investigation, the referee falsified the match report, stating that he feared for his physical integrity and that he needed a police escort to leave the stadium, something that contradicts a report by the Mossos d'Esquadra, which states that there were no real threats against the referee.

In addition, the detective agency claims that Mallo Fernández received personal benefits for favouring Málaga in the promotion, which allowed him to increase his salary fivefold when he was promoted to the second division.

The referee also denounces threats

For his part, Mallo Fernandez states in the referee's report that both he and his team were victims of serious threats from Nàstic players and directors. According to his version, he heard phrases such as ‘you are going to die’ or ‘your son is going to die’, as well as repeated verbal aggressions after the match. These accusations led to disciplinary sanctions against the Tarragona club, including a four-match stadium closure and a 12-match suspension for the player David Concha for violent protests.

An unprecedented case

This is the first time that a Spanish club has resorted to criminal proceedings to challenge the result of a match due to refereeing actions. The complaint filed by Nàstic includes audios which, they claim, contradict Mallo Fernández's statements and reinforce suspicions of possible match-fixing.

The Nàstic president has called a press conference to give more details about the complaint, which aims to set a precedent in the fight against irregularities in professional football.

Mallo's future and the impact on Spanish football

For now, Eder Mallo continues to referee in the second division, while the case progresses through the courts. This confrontation could open a wider debate on the transparency and control of refereeing in Spanish football, in a context where the confidence of clubs and fans in the system is increasingly compromised.

Meanwhile, Málaga are enjoying their return to professional football, although this case threatens to tarnish their promotion. For their part, Nàstic find themselves in a legal battle that could mark a before and after in the beautiful game.