Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho expressed his frustration with Spain's refereeing committee after his team lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in a La Liga derby clash on Sunday. The defeat dropped Madrid to third place, six points behind unbeaten leaders Barcelona. Mourinho was unhappy with the refereeing, particularly with two fouls in the first half that he believed should have resulted in red cards.
The disputed fouls were committed by Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-in on Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde, respectively. Mourinho insisted that these incidents should have been punished with red cards. In contrast, Madrid were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Dean Huijsen fouled Giuliano Simeone, resulting in a penalty.
Mourinho criticized referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias, stating that he "could not handle the pressure" at the Metropolitano stadium. The coach also blamed Spain's refereeing committee, the CTA, for the appointment of Ortiz Arias, who at 41 has never been an international referee. Mourinho questioned the rationale behind this appointment.
Furthermore, Mourinho expressed concerns about the VAR referee, Daniel Trujillo, who he claimed has "history" with Real Madrid. The coach suggested that the combination of Ortiz Arias and Trujillo was unfavorable to his team. Madrid had filed a formal complaint about Spanish refereeing in February 2025, labeling it "rigged" and "completely discredited."
Despite the defeat, Mourinho remained optimistic about his team's chances of winning the Spanish title. He emphasized that if the refereeing was fair, his team could still compete effectively. Mourinho praised his players for their performance in the first half, describing it as "great quality" and "great personality."
The incident that led to Huijsen's red card was not seen by Mourinho. The coach attributed the unfavorable refereeing decisions to the referee appointment committee. He implied that the committee's choices were biased against Real Madrid.
Real Madrid's television channel regularly criticizes officiating in Spain. The club's complaints about refereeing have been ongoing, and Mourinho's post-match comments reflect the team's frustration with the current state of refereeing in La Liga. The coach's statements have added fuel to the debate about refereeing standards in Spanish football.
Key points
- Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho criticizes Spain's refereeing committee after 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid.
- Mourinho believes two fouls in the first half should have resulted in red cards.
- The defeat drops Madrid to third place, six points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.
