A linesman in La Liga was allegedly told to favor Real Madrid in next month's match against Barcelona.

The unnamed official made a formal complaint through a lawyer to the anti-corruption investigating magistrate in Barcelona in which he claimed to have been told to favor Madrid – first by another official and then, over the phone, by a member of the Spanish Football Federation’s referees’ committee.

According to his lawyer, Jacinto Vicente Hernández, an expert in sports law based in Barcelona, the linesman wanted to go public with the allegations but he persuaded his client to make a formal, legal statement to the anti-corruption investigating magistrate instead. The Guardia Civil has also been informed.

The story was broken by the Catalan newspaper L’Esportiu on Wednesday and followed up by Cadena Cope radio station.