Atletico Madrid have pushed back against the complaints made by Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho regarding the officiating in Sunday’s derby. Mourinho arrived at the post‑match press conference clutching printed sheets that, in his view, illustrated two clear red‑card offences committed by Atletico players.
The former Chelsea boss accused the referee of making decisive mistakes that, in his opinion, cost Real the 2‑1 defeat. In the days that followed, Atletico took to their X (formerly Twitter) account to launch a two‑part campaign aimed at silencing what they termed "referee harassment". The first post featured a short video of a piece of paper being printed with the slogan "#StopAcosoArbitalYA", which translates to “stop referee harassment now”. The second post displayed a still of Mourinho at the press conference, overlaid with the same hashtag, underscoring the club’s displeasure with the manager’s public outburst.
During the briefing, Mourinho held up photographs of the two incidents he believed warranted expulsions. He was particularly incensed that Atletico centre‑back Cristian Romero was not shown a red card after a stamp on Real’s Jude Bellingham, and that Lee Kang‑in’s challenge on Federico Valverde went unpunished. Mourinho argued that the match effectively became an 11‑against‑9 contest after Real were reduced to ten men shortly after the break, and he imagined how the game would have unfolded had the referee applied the laws correctly, turning it into a 11‑against‑9 scenario for the full fifty minutes.
The match itself saw Real defender Dean Huijsen dismissed for bringing down Giuliano Simeone inside the penalty area, which allowed 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 narrow the gap for Real. Despite the loss, Mourinho praised his side’s first‑half performance, describing it as "full of class and great character".
He then launched a scathing tirade against the match official, Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias, and the refereeing committee that appointed him. Mourinho questioned the referee’s credentials, noting that Ortiz Arias, at 41, lacked any international experience and suggesting that his appointment was not based on merit. He claimed the referee was overwhelmed by the "80s‑style pressure" of the stadium, a pressure he said is rarely seen in modern football. When asked about Real’s six‑point deficit to Barcelona, Mourinho replied that the team simply needed to be left alone to compete on an even playing field, adding that he did not want to insinuate a conspiracy, only that mistakes had been made.
Real Madrid’s own official match report echoed Mourinho’s grievances, describing the derby as being "marred by poor officiating". The club’s statement singled out Ortiz Arias for failing to send off Cristian Romero after a studs‑on‑knee incident involving Bellingham, despite a video review that was apparently conducted. The report also highlighted the missed call on Lee Kang‑in’s challenge on Valverde’s left ankle, noting that the referee was close to the incident but did not issue any sanction, nor was he prompted by the fourth official.
The narrative surrounding the match quickly turned into a debate about the use of VAR, referee selection, and the broader issue of perceived bias in high‑profile fixtures. Critics argued that the referee’s hesitation to issue red cards undermined the integrity of the game, while others defended the official’s discretion, pointing out that the laws of the game allow for a range of interpretations in fast‑moving situations. Atletico’s response on social media was part of a larger trend of clubs and players using digital platforms to voice dissatisfaction with officiating decisions. By attaching the hashtag #StopAcosoArbitalYA to their posts, the club aimed to galvanise supporters and pressure the Spanish Football Federation to review referee appointments and VAR protocols.
The campaign also sought to shift the conversation away from Mourinho’s personal grievances and towards systemic reforms. In the aftermath, both clubs are set to focus on their upcoming fixtures.
Atletico will look to build on the momentum of their derby victory, while Real will aim to recover from the loss and close the gap to Barcelona. The controversy may also influence future referee assignments, as the league’s governing body faces calls for greater transparency and accountability. Overall, the incident highlights how a single match can ignite a broader discussion about fairness, technology, and the human element in football. Whether the league will respond with concrete changes remains to be seen, but the debate sparked by Mourinho’s post‑match remarks and Atletico’s social‑media campaign will likely continue to shape the narrative of Spanish football throughout the season.