Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt, now a minority owner of RCD Espanyol, has publicly criticized La Liga officiating, signaling a new era of high-stakes ambition for the Spanish club.
Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt is upset with the officiating his team in La Liga, RCD Espanyol, has received as of late. A minority owner in the club, Watt was asked on “The Pat McAfee Show” whether or not his club was considering signing an American, specifically Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna, to the club.
Watt avoided the question though, and instead spiraled into a myriad of other issues his team is currently facing, particularly “some ref issues going on.”
Watt expanded, “There’s been some questionable things happening and we’re trying to make sure everything is on the up and up. We’re not getting little club syndrome, and we’re going to stand up to it.”
Watt is clearly unhappy with the officiating his Spanish club has received. Despite the alleged poor officiating though, Espanyol currently sits fifth in the La Liga table with a record of 10-4-7 (W-D-L), but the team has lost three of its last five and only won a single game in that span, a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid.
From NFL Gridiron to La Liga Boardroom
Watt’s involvement with Espanyol is a relatively recent but significant development. He became part-owner of the club in July 2025 as a result of Premier League club Burnley FC’s takeover of the Spanish club. Watt had been part of Burnley’s ownership group since May 1, 2023. His move into soccer ownership represents a high-profile entry into the European sports landscape, bringing a new level of American sports-business acumen and a winning pedigree to a club with a proud history but a recent history of mid-table mediocrity.
The Specific Grievance: A Controversial Penalty
Watt mentions a few “questionable calls.” Those calls certainly aren’t coming in the form of cards though. As it stands, Espanyol remains one of the least carded teams in La Liga, with just 45 total cards on the year (43 yellows, 2 reds, 49 total card points — tied for seventh-fewest in La Liga). However, there have been some controversial calls in recent matches that didn’t involve cards.
In the team’s most recent match against Valencia CF, a penalty was called that resulted in Valencia scoring the decisive goal in the 94th minute. This call came in stoppage time, which means the match likely would’ve ended in a draw had this call not been made.
At first glance, it does seem like the penalty was a hasty call as the Espanyol defender seemed to be clearly playing the ball. The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) did eventually admit that the penalty should not have been called in a review of the footage on X.
Of course, admittance of their mistake does not revert the outcome of the game. Espanyol still lost the contest. Thus, many people — including Espanyol coach Manolo Gonzalez — are calling for referees to start facing consequences for improper calls that result in teams losing matches.
Watt’s public airing of grievances is a clear signal that Espanyol’s ambitions have shifted. This isn’t a club content with avoiding relegation. This is a club with a powerful American owner who is used to competing for championships, and who will no longer accept perceived injustices that stand in the way of success. His “little club syndrome” comment is a declaration of intent: Espanyol is ready to play with the big boys, and it will demand to be treated as such, on and off the pitch.
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