José Mourinho, the coach of Real Madrid, openly criticized the refereeing decisions, the VAR system, and the referee appointment process following a contentious loss to Atlético Madrid. His remarks at the post-match press conference at the Metropolitano stadium echoed the memorable and impactful statements he has made throughout his career.
In what turned out to be a dramatic and pointed address to the media, Mourinho targeted Spain’s refereeing committee and specifically questioned the integrity of referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias. The coach expressed his disbelief over what he considered to be incorrect and biased officiating that influenced the outcome of the Madrid derby.
Controversy Over Key Decisions
When asked about the refereeing during the match, Mourinho highlighted two significant incidents from the first half involving challenges by Cuti Romero and Kang-in Lee. Holding up printed photographs of these moments, he insisted that both should have resulted in red cards, which were not shown during the game.
“We could have saved ourselves the press conference because the story of the game is right here,” Mourinho stated, emphasizing the gravity of the missed calls. He argued that playing with a full team against ten men was already challenging enough, and suggested that if his team had been reduced further, the match would have been even harder to manage.
Despite the controversial rulings, Mourinho praised his players for their effort and resilience, noting their strong first-half performance and the quality and character they displayed throughout the game. He maintained that Real Madrid could have still secured victory in the second half under fair circumstances.
Beyond the immediate game, Mourinho raised concerns about the referee appointment process itself. He revealed that the identity of the match official was known a week in advance, which contradicts the usual protocol of announcing referees 24 hours before kickoff. This early disclosure, according to Mourinho, added to the suspicion surrounding the match’s officiating.
The coach concluded by suggesting that while Atlético Madrid supporters might be pleased with the result, the referee appointment committee should be the ones truly satisfied, implying that the entire situation surrounding the match’s governance appeared unusual and questionable.