La Liga: Mourinho blames ref committee for Real Madrid derby defeat

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Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho lashed out at Spain’s refereeing committee after Los Blancos lost 2-1 at Atletico Madrid on Sunday in a La Liga derby clash.

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Mourinho’s team dropped to third, six points behind unbeaten leaders Barcelona as they stumbled at the Metropolitano stadium.n

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Madrid were unhappy about fouls by Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-in on Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde in the first half, which Mourinho insisted should have been red cards.

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Madrid were reduced to 10 men themselves early in the second half when Dean Huijsen fouled Giuliano Simeone to give away a penalty.

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“We could skip the press conference because the story of the match is right here,” Mourinho told reporters, clutching a printed piece of paper with images of the fouls he was unhappy about.

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“They were two clear red cards.”

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Mourinho said referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias “could not handle the pressure” at the Metropolitano stadium and blamed Spain’s refereeing committee, the CTA.

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“The ones who should be really happy are the referee appointment committee, because everything was very strange,” said Mourinho.

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“They assign a referee who, at 41, has never been an international (referee), so it’s clearly not because he’s a great referee.”

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Mourinho also said the match’s VAR referee, Daniel Trujillo, has “history” with Madrid.

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“This combination… a referee, a poor referee, who has only done tiny little matches, and a VAR official with a big history… well, congratulations to the referee appointment committee,” continued Mourinho.

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The coach said he had “not seen” the incident for Huijsen’s red card.

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In February 2025, Madrid filed a formal complaint about Spanish refereeing to the Spanish football federation, labelling it “rigged” and “completely discredited.”

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The club’s television channel regularly attacks officiating in Spain.

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Real Madrid created no chances of note in a dull first half against Atletico, but Mourinho said he was happy with his players.

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“They played a first half of great quality, of great personality,” said the veteran Portuguese coach.

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Mourinho said his team still had a good chance of winning the Spanish title if the refereeing was fair.

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“If they leave us in peace and calm, if they let us compete on equal terms with everyone, there’s still a long way to go,” said Mourinho.

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AFP

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