Real Madrid issue strong statement after controversial Atletico Madrid defeat

Real Madrid suffered a controversial 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday, leaving them with zero points from the match. The team's anger stemmed from several contentious referee decisions made by Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias. One notable incident involved Dean Huijsen being dismissed for a late challenge on Giuliano Simeone, which Real Madrid believed should have resulted in Atletico Madrid playing with ten men.

Additionally, Cristian Romero was only given a yellow card for a tackle on Jude Bellingham, despite the incident involving the defender's knee. Lee Kang-in escaped any punishment after colliding with Federico Valverde, leaving Valverde with an injury. Following the match, Mourinho expressed his displeasure with the referee's performance, and Real Madrid also criticized Ortiz Arias in a post-match statement.

The team felt aggrieved by the lack of red cards for Romero and Lee, as their removal could have significantly impacted the match's outcome. Furthermore, the team's frustration is compounded by the upcoming three-week international break, which is expected to exacerbate these sentiments.