Atletico Madrid have pushed back against the complaints raised by Real Madrid’s manager, Jose Mourinho, regarding the officiating in Sunday’s high‑stakes derby. 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 committing decisive mistakes that, in his view, cost Real the game, which ended 2-1 in favour of the hosts.
In retaliation, Atletico took to their official 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 still image of Mourinho at the press conference, overlaid with the same hashtag, signalling the club’s displeasure with the manager’s public outburst. During the press conference, Mourinho displayed photographs of the two tackles he deemed worthy of dismissal. He was particularly incensed that Atletico defender Cristian Romero was not sent off after a stamp on Real’s midfielder Jude Bellingham.
Mourinho also took issue with a challenge by Lee Kang‑in on Federico Valverde, which occurred just before Real were reduced to ten men five minutes after the interval. "We could skip the press conference because the story of the match is right here," Mourinho said, brandishing the images as he launched into a near 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 the game would have unfolded if it had been eleven against nine when justice was applied." The match itself saw Real defender Dean Huijsen sent off for bringing down Giuliano Simeone inside the penalty area, allowing Alejandro Grimaldo to convert a low spot‑kick. Six minutes later, Jonathan David doubled Atletico’s lead, while Antonio Rudiger headed in a late free‑kick to narrow the deficit for Real. Mourinho claimed he could only "hug" his players after what he described as a first half "full of class and great character," yet he directed sharp criticism at referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias and the officials responsible for his appointment.
"They’ve placed a 41‑year‑old referee with no international experience on this match – it’s certainly not because he’s an outstanding official," Mourinho argued. "The poor chap has been unable to cope with the intense pressure – I call it '80s‑style pressure' in this stadium, something we rarely see these days." When asked about Real’s six‑point gap behind Barcelona, Mourinho replied pointedly: "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." He stopped short of alleging a conspiracy, saying, "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 released an official match report that echoed Mourinho’s grievances, describing the defeat as "marked by poor officiating." The club’s statement claimed that Ortiz Arias failed to send off Cristian Romero for a deliberate stamp on Bellingham’s knee, despite reviewing the incident on the monitor. It also accused the referee of overlooking Lee Kang‑in’s challenge on Valverde, where the South Korean player’s studs struck the Spanish midfielder’s left ankle.
According to the report, the first half was relatively uneventful until the 30th minute, after which controversy dominated the encounter. At the 35th minute, a contested ball saw Bellingham reach the ball before Romero, only for the Atletico defender to plant his studs into Bellingham’s left knee. Ortiz Arias initially booked Romero but, after being prompted by assistant referee Trujillo Suárez to review the footage, rescinded the card for Bellingham and issued a yellow to Romero instead of a red. Nine minutes later, the referee allegedly missed another crucial foul when Lee Kang‑in struck Valverde’s left ankle with his studs.
The report claims Ortiz Arias was close enough to the incident to have seen it but failed to issue any card, nor was he alerted by Trujillo Suárez on this occasion. Atletico’s social‑media response, combined with Real’s formal complaint, underscores the growing tension surrounding refereeing standards in La Liga’s most high‑profile fixtures. Both clubs are now urging the league’s governing bodies to review the officiating protocols and ensure that referees with sufficient experience are appointed for future derbies. The incident also reignites the broader debate about the use of video‑assistant referee (VAR) technology and its impact on decision‑making.
While VAR is intended to reduce clear errors, critics argue that inconsistent application and delayed interventions can still sway outcomes dramatically, as seen in this match. Fans of both sides have taken to forums and social media to voice their opinions, with many supporting Mourinho’s call for accountability, while others defend the referee, citing the difficulty of making split‑second judgments in a fast‑paced game.
The controversy may prompt La Liga to consider additional training for referees, stricter guidelines for VAR usage, or even a review of the disciplinary thresholds for violent conduct. As the season progresses, Real Madrid will look to close the gap with Barcelona, while Atletico Madrid aims to maintain its momentum in the league. Both teams know that future encounters will be scrutinised even more closely, and any perceived officiating errors could have significant implications for title races and European qualification. In the meantime, the clubs continue to prepare for upcoming fixtures, with Mourinho emphasizing the need for his squad to stay focused despite the off‑field distractions.
Atletico, on the other hand, appears determined to defend its position and to ensure that any future criticisms are met with a measured response rather than an escalation of hostilities. The saga serves as a reminder that football is not only about the 90 minutes on the pitch but also about the narratives that unfold off it, influencing public perception, club reputation, and ultimately, the sport’s integrity.