Liga stops referee harassment, Atlético reacts after the derby
During José Mourinho's explosive press conference, the Real Madrid manager accused the referee and the video assistant of having omitted two dismissals against Cuti Romero and Kang-in Lee, after the Real's 2-1 defeat to Atlético. Real, frustrated, saw its appeal turn into a national controversy.
Mourinho denounces the refereeing
José Mourinho did not hesitate to charge referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias and VAR official Daniel Jesús Trujillo Suárez, calling them “referee harassment”. He presented two photos of the disputed actions, insisting that the red cards against Cuti Romero and Kang-in Lee had been omitted. The coach emphasized that these decisions had changed the course of the match.
Atlético's reaction
Atlético de Madrid responded on Monday evening by posting a video on its social media, where the message “Stop referee harassment now” is displayed on an A4 sheet. The club thus adopted the same approach as Mourinho, showing the two images of the contested actions and reiterating its refusal to tolerate such practices.
First controversy of the match
In the 36th minute, while the score was still nil, Jude Bellingham went to the ground after a duel with Cuti Romero, who stepped on his knee. The referee first showed a yellow card to Romero, then, after VAR consultation, cancelled the sanction against Real and awarded a yellow to Atlético. This correction fed Mourinho's claims.
Real Madrid and José Mourinho hit by La Liga boss over referee tirade
Second controversy of the match
At the end of the first half, Kang-in Lee arrived late and stepped on the tendon of Fede Valverde, provoking the anger of the Spanish midfielder. No card was given, the VAR having not re‑examined the situation, despite Real's request for a dismissal. The rapid pace of the restart, according to the club, prevented a more thorough analysis.
Other disputed decisions
The match also saw Dean Huijsen seize Giuliano Simeone in the box, leading to a penalty and a red card after VAR advice. Moreover, a hand gesture by a Real player just before the 40th minute was not reviewed, although the video clearly shows the incident. These facts fed the sense of injustice among Madrid supporters.
Liga's response
Javier Tebas, president of the Liga, said he understood the complaints but challenged the form of the protest. “I understand the complaints, but never the form,” he asserted, adding that the red card requested against Romero was not justified, while Lee's foul should have been severely punished. “You can give a red, it may seem to deserve a red, and if you don’t blow it, there is no problem,” he concluded.
Real Madrid rebukes La Liga president's remarks as irresponsible
Atlético's 2-1 victory ends a three‑week match‑free period for both clubs, reminding that the season starts very early. The colchonero club concluded its statement by declaring that “the machine is in on mode”, highlighting its ambition for the rest of the championship.