Mourinho blames ref committee for Real Madrid derby defeat

In a La Liga match, Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho criticized Spain's refereeing committee following their 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid. The defeat saw the team drop to third place, six points behind champions Barcelona. Mourinho claimed that two clear red cards were not enforced, one on Jude Bellingham and the other on Federico Valverde, which he said should have resulted in the elimination of Madrid from the game.

Referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias reportedly struggled to handle the pressure at the Metropolitano stadium, according to Mourinho. Furthermore, he blamed the referee committee for assigning a 41-year-old referee with no international experience, as well as a VAR official with a history of working with Madrid. Mourinho also expressed surprise at the red card decision for Lee Kang-in's foul on Giuliano Simeone.

In February 2025, Madrid had already lodged a formal complaint to the Spanish football federation, labeling the refereeing system as "rigged" and "completely discredited." The club's television channel frequently criticized officiating in Spain. Mourinho maintained a positive view of his players, stating that they played a first-half of great quality.

He expressed hope that fair refereeing conditions could still enable his team to win the Spanish title.