Barcelona's VP hopes linesman's claim of being told to favour Real Madrid is untrue

Spanish football is under the microscope after an unnamed linesman made a formal complaint, known as a "denuncia" in Spain, that he had been told to favour Real Madrid in next month's edition of El Clasico.

Related: Referee launches legal action against 'anti-Barcelona plot'

The story was initally broken by Catalan newspaper L'Esportiu on Wednesday and was subsequently picked up by radio station Cadena Cope. The linesman alleges that he was instructed in September to favour Real Madrid in its La Liga fixture against Barcelona on Nov. 21, first by another official and then by a member of the Spanish Football Federation's referees' committee.

"I hope it does not prove to be true," said Susana Monje, Barcelona's vice-president, according to Sid Lowe of the Guardian.

She added: "We will possibly discuss it at a meeting of the board. All I can say at the moment is that if it is confirmed, it will be (a) dangerous story in terms of the prestige of La Liga."

The linesman did not want to be identified because of fears over "possible reprisals," but that the "denuncia" was made through lawyer Jacinto Vicente Hernandez to the anti-corruption investigating magistrate in Barcelona.

Lowe elaborates:

The linesman, who forms part of one of the officiating teams that could be designated for the clasico, alleges that an official spoke to him in September and suggested that, should they be given the chance to officiate the clasico, he should seek to influence the game in Madrid's favour. The linesman was allegedly told that the order had come from "someone inside (the refereeing authorities)" and that it was better for the linesman to try to fix the game than a referee as the lead official is subject to greater media scrutiny.

He claims to have been told that this had already happened this season and that, as it caused a stir, it was better to be more "subtle." The linesman says that he was not comfortable with the suggestion and that the official replied that nor was he but that as they are constantly rated by the referees' committee, and their careers depend upon that committee, it would be wise to follow orders.

It was allegedly after speaking to the official that Jose Angel Jimenez Munoz - reported as the member of the referee's committee accused of applying extra pressure - phoned the linesman upon hearing of the linesman's reluctance to participate.

Jimenez Munoz has denied the allegations, which have not been substantiated.