Atletico Madrid have pushed back against Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho's outspoken criticism of the officiating in Sunday’s derby clash. Mourinho arrived at the post‑match press conference clutching printed sheets that highlighted two incidents he believed should have resulted in red cards for Atletico players. The former Chelsea boss accused the match officials of making pivotal mistakes that, in his view, cost Real the game, which ended 2‑1 in favour of the hosts. In retaliation, Atletico took to their X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday with two separate posts.
The first post featured a short video of a piece of paper being printed with the hashtag "#StopAcosoArbitalYA," which translates to “stop referee harassment now.” The second post displayed a screenshot of Mourinho at the press conference, overlaid with the same hashtag, signalling the club’s displeasure with what they perceived as an unfair public assault on the referee. Mourinho’s grievance centred on two specific moments.
First, he argued that Atletico defender Cristian Romero should have been sent off after a stamp on Real’s Jude Bellingham. Second, he claimed that Lee Kang‑in’s challenge on Federico Valverde warranted a dismissal as well. Both incidents, according to Mourinho, occurred before Real were reduced to ten men just five minutes after the break. "We could skip the press conference because the story of the match is right here," Mourinho said, holding up the printed images as he launched into a nearly five‑minute tirade.
"Those were two clear red cards. The difficulties we faced after the sending‑off – eleven against ten – we can only imagine how much harder it would have been if it had been eleven against nine." The match itself saw Real defender Dean Huijsen receive a straight‑red after bringing down Giuliano Simeone inside the penalty area, allowing Alejandro Grimaldo to slot home a low spot‑kick. Six minutes later, Jonathan David doubled Atletico’s lead, and Antonio Rudiger later headed in a free‑kick to reduce the deficit for Real.
Mourinho, while praising his side’s first‑half performance as "full of class and great character," directed his sharpest criticism at referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias and the officials responsible for his appointment. "They have given a 41‑year‑old referee with no international experience a crucial match – it’s certainly not because he’s an outstanding official," Mourinho said. "The poor man was under immense pressure, the kind of pressure you only saw in the 80s, and he simply couldn’t cope." When asked about Real’s six‑point gap behind Barcelona, Mourinho responded with a pointed remark: "If they just leave us in peace and let us compete on a level playing field with everyone else, we still have a long way to go.
I don’t want to go so far as to say this was set up… I want to believe that they simply made a mistake." Real Madrid later issued an official match report that echoed many of Mourinho’s points, describing the defeat as being "marked by poor officiating." The La Liga club wrote that Ortiz Arias failed to send off Cristian Romero after the latter stepped on Bellingham’s knee, despite a monitor review that showed the severity of the challenge. The report also noted that Lee Kang‑in’s studs struck Valverde’s left ankle, yet the referee neither issued a yellow nor a red card. According to the club’s statement, the first half was relatively uneventful until the 30th minute, after which controversy began to dominate the narrative.
At the 35th minute, a contested ball saw Bellingham reach the ball before Romero, who then planted his studs into the Madrid player’s left knee. Ortiz Arias initially booked the Atletico defender but, after being prompted by referee supervisor Trujillo Suárez to review the incident, rescinded the card for Bellingham and issued only a yellow to Romero instead of a dismissal. Nine minutes later, a second contentious moment occurred when Lee Kang‑in challenged Valverde, striking his left ankle with his studs.
Ortiz Arias, who was reportedly close to the incident, chose not to intervene at all, neither awarding a card nor consulting the video assistant referee. The club argued that both missed calls significantly altered the flow of the game, ultimately tipping the balance in Atletico’s favour during the second half. The fallout from the derby has reignited a broader debate within Spanish football about referee selection, the use of video technology, and the influence of high‑profile managers publicly questioning officials. While Mourinho’s outburst has drawn both support and criticism, Atletico’s social‑media campaign underscores the growing frustration among clubs that feel they are being unfairly targeted by the media and rival managers.
In the weeks ahead, both sides will have to focus on their upcoming fixtures. Atletico will look to build on their victory and maintain pressure on the league leaders, while Real will aim to bounce back from the loss and close the gap to Barcelona. The referee controversy is likely to remain a talking point, with the Spanish Football Federation expected to review the incidents and possibly issue guidance on how similar situations should be handled in the future.
As the season progresses, the rivalry between Mourinho’s Real and Diego Simeone’s Atletico continues to provide drama both on and off the pitch, reminding fans that football is as much about the narratives surrounding the game as it is about the ninety minutes of play.