Mourinho questions referee decisions in Real Madrid derby loss

Harry Archie September 20, 2026

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has criticised the referee and Spain’s referee committee after his side lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in Sunday’s Madrid derby.

Mourinho said Atletico should have received two red cards in the first half for challenges on Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde.

He brought printed photographs of the incidents to his post-match press conference and used them to question the decisions made by referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias and VAR official Daniel Trujillo Suarez.

Mourinho also questioned why Ortiz Arias was chosen to officiate such a high-profile match, pointing to the referee’s lack of international experience.

“It’s the referee committee,” Mourinho said, arguing that the officials had made a mistake by appointing a referee who, in his view, was not experienced enough for the occasion.

Real Madrid were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Dean Huijsen was sent off for bringing down Giuliano Simeone in the penalty area. Alejandro Grimaldo converted the resulting penalty before Jonathan David put Atletico 2-0 ahead.

Antonio Rudiger scored a late goal for Real Madrid, but Atletico held on for the win.

Mourinho stopped short of saying the decisions were deliberate, saying he preferred to believe the referee committee had simply made mistakes.

Atletico manager Diego Simeone, meanwhile, declined to engage in the refereeing debate and urged coaches to be careful with their public comments.

The defeat leaves Real Madrid behind Barcelona in the early LaLiga standings, while Atletico moved into second place.