Rodri criticises the refereeing controversy after the Madrid derby

Rodri, midfielder of FC Barcelona, gave his opinion on the controversial derby between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid, played on September 9 in the Spanish league. In the interview given to Cadena Cope, the player emphasized that, despite the 2‑1 victory of the colchoneros, the referee was under fire both from the white club’s television channel and from José Mourinho himself.

Assessment of the game

According to Rodri, the match was balanced from a footballing perspective, although he felt that Atlético Madrid showed greater presence and made more accurate decisions, controlling the development of the game. “I think Atlético were better, more present on the pitch, made better decisions and deserved the win,” he said.

Refereeing controversies

The player also examined controversial episodes, such as Cuti’s action and Kang‑in’s dismissal, noting that he was not sure whether the former could move his foot and that the red card to Kang‑in did not seem intentional. He acknowledged that referees can make mistakes, but argued that such errors do not change the course of a 38‑match season.

When asked about theories accusing the league of favoring Barcelona, Rodri replied that such comments damage football. “We are all human and we make mistakes. I don’t believe in that kind of discourse,” he said.

The debate’s context arose after Real Madrid’s loss to Atlético Madrid, which left Barcelona six points above the blancos as the international break began. The reaction of the Madrid club’s television channel and of coach José Mourinho fueled the controversy over the referee’s performance.

Rodri concluded that, although he defends his team, the limit is not to feed manipulation rumors. “Defending your club is fine, but only up to a point,” he added.