Super Eagles prospect and Getafe midfielder Christantus Uche sparked a heated debate in La Liga after raising concerns about the refereeing standards in Spain’s top flight.
The 21-year-old has publicly voiced his frustrations about the rough treatment he's received on the pitch, which, according to him, has largely gone unnoticed by match officials.
His complaints gained traction, even though Getafe’s club president quickly moved to dismiss Uche's observations.
Christantus Uche is La Liga most fouled player
Based on available data, Uche’s claim that he has borne the brunt of opposition punishment does not appear to be farfetched.
After eight matches in La Liga, Uche has become the most fouled player in the entire league, having been fouled 29 times.
His total surpasses that of Real Betis’ Giovani Lo Celso, who follows with 26 fouls won, while Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal comes in third with 22.
Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid and Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad round out the top five with 19 and 17 fouls, respectively.
Playing as both a false nine and in an advanced midfield role, Uche’s versatility has made him a target for rough tackles.
His dynamic playstyle and ability to draw defenders in have earned him a foul every 23.44 minutes over his 680 minutes played this season.
While Uche acknowledges that being fouled is part of the game, his complaints suggest that the numbers could have been even higher if referees' calls were more favourable to his pleas.
