Mourinho questions refereeing after Real Madrid loss in Madrid derby

Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has criticized the refereeing after his side suffered a 2-1 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the Madrid derby. 

Mourinho arrived at his post-match press conference carrying a printed sheet showing two incidents he believed should have resulted in Atlético players being sent off during the first half.

The first incident involved Jude Bellingham and Cristian Romero in the 37th minute, when the two players contested a loose ball. 

Bellingham was initially shown a yellow card, but VAR overturned the decision, while Romero was booked after replays showed contact with his studs on Bellingham’s knee. 

Mourinho also pointed to a challenge by Lee Kang-in on Federico Valverde, which he argued deserved a straight red card.

Mourinho said the decisions had a major bearing on the match, particularly after Real Madrid later had Dean Huijsen sent off following a VAR review. 

He suggested his team could have faced a very different second half if Atlético had been reduced to nine men. 

However, the Portuguese manager praised his players for their commitment and performance, particularly during the opening half.

Atlético boss Diego Simeone rejected the focus on the refereeing controversy and said his team controlled the match. 

The Argentine praised his players’ defensive organization, teamwork and collective effort, while acknowledging the threat posed by Real Madrid’s attacking players and their ability to transition quickly.

The defeat was Real Madrid’s second of the season after their earlier 1-0 loss to Real Betis. 

They now sit fourth in La Liga, while Atlético occupy second place, five points behind leaders Barcelona. 

Mourinho, however, stressed that the season remains in its early stages and that the outcome would matter more than the current standings.

Mourinho also said he wanted to believe the controversial decisions were simply mistakes rather than deliberate errors. 

With La Liga now entering the international break, both Madrid clubs will have time to regroup before league action resumes on October 9.