Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho expressed his frustration with the refereeing after his team's 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid on September 20, 2026. Mourinho arrived at the post-match news conference carrying a printed sheet of paper with screenshots of two incidents that he believed should have resulted in red cards for Atletico Madrid players. He accused the officials of making key errors, which he claimed had a significant impact on the match.
The first incident Mourinho referenced involved Real's Jude Bellingham and Atleti's Cristian Romero in the 37th minute. Both players challenged for a loose ball, and the clash ended with Bellingham being shown a yellow card. Mourinho pleaded with the referee for a red card to be shown to Romero for dangerous foul play, as replays showed Romero made contact with his studs on Bellingham's knee. However, Bellingham's yellow card was retracted after a video assistant referee review, and Romero was given a yellow.
The second incident was for a challenge by Atletico's Lee Kang-in on Fede Valverde, which Mourinho believed should have been a straight red card. Mourinho questioned the appointment of the match officials, saying he wanted to believe the decisions were mistakes rather than deliberate. He argued that the two first-half decisions had a significant impact on the match, insisting his team had shown character despite the circumstances.
Atletico manager Diego Simeone responded to Mourinho's refereeing rant, saying he was always respectful of everyone else's opinions. Simeone emphasized the importance of respecting others, including referees and colleagues. He described the derby as an intense match and praised his players' defensive organisation and collective effort against a Real Madrid side featuring several dangerous attacking players.
Despite the defeat, Mourinho praised his team's commitment and performance, particularly in the first half. He said he had no complaints about his players' effort and praised their pride and determination. Mourinho also addressed the dismissal of Dean Huijsen, which resulted in a penalty for Atletico, admitting he had not yet watched the VAR replay.
The defeat leaves Real Madrid fourth in the league standings, with Atletico second - five points behind league leaders Barcelona. Mourinho stressed that there was still a long way to go in the season, saying that under normal circumstances, it's not about how it starts, but how it ends. Atletico controlled the match, according to Simeone, who praised his team's collective effort and play.
La Liga will resume on Friday, October 9, following the international break. The match between Atletico and Real Madrid was intense, with both teams creating chances. Simeone rejected the suggestion that the result would be overshadowed by the refereeing debate, saying his team had controlled the contest.
Key points
- Mourinho criticized the refereeing after Real Madrid's 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid.
- Mourinho cited two incidents that he believed should have resulted in red cards for Atletico players.
- The defeat leaves Real Madrid fourth in the league standings.
