Jose Mourinho launched an angry attack on referee Ortiz Arias, insisting the official was not qualified to take charge of Sunday’s Madrid derby.
Mourinho’s 10-man Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat to fierce city rivals Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano, leaving the manager furious with the officiating.
Still seething during his post-match press conference, Mourinho arrived with printed photographs highlighting what he believed were several major decisions missed by Arias.
“We could save ourselves the press conference,” Mourinho said at the start of his visibly irritated appearance.
Holding up images of incidents he felt warranted dismissals, he argued that Atletico should have been reduced to nine men. “Here they are — two clear reds. It would have been 50 minutes of 11 against nine,” Mourinho said. He praised his players for producing a first half filled with “class and personality” and added that he had prepared the team to win the match after the interval.
Instead of dwelling on his own players’ display, including Dean Huijsen’s red card, Mourinho directed his anger at what he described as a poor performance from Arias. The manager argued that the referee was not ready to oversee a match of such importance.
Jose Mourinho was furious with Ortiz Arias’ refereeing performance during Sunday’s Madrid derby
Mourinho was so unhappy with the officiating that he brought printed images of fouls he believed had gone unpunished
Mourinho then turned his attention to the Refereeing Appointments Committee, sarcastically suggesting that the body should be pleased with how the match had unfolded.
He questioned why the referee had been appointed a week before the game, rather than 24 hours in advance as had previously been the case. Mourinho also pointed out that Arias was 41 and had never been an international referee, arguing that he lacked the credentials to operate at the highest level.
According to Mourinho, Arias struggled to cope with the intense pressure surrounding the derby.
He also criticised VAR official Trujillo, claiming he intervened to send the referee to the monitor for the first potential red card but failed to do so for a second incident that Mourinho considered even clearer. The manager referred to Trujillo’s previous involvement in matches featuring Real Madrid, including last year’s Copa final, as well as games involving Osasuna and Girona.
Mourinho said that if Arias lacked the experience and stature required for a derby, then the VAR official was either unaffected by pressure or operating under circumstances that outsiders did not understand.
The Real Madrid boss insisted he would have preferred to leave with a victory rather than discuss the controversy. He added that, despite arriving in Spain three months earlier, he was not normally someone who chose to attack officials in this way.
Mourinho contrasted the defeat with Real Madrid’s earlier victory over Elche, when two opposing players were sent off. He said two red cards for Atletico would have made a significant difference, while again questioning Arias’ limited experience and pointing to what he described as Trujillo’s history with the club.
He ended his tirade with a sarcastic message: “Congratulations to the Refereeing Appointments Committee.”
Mourinho was adamant that Arias would never reach the highest level of refereeing
Mourinho is renowned for using press conferences to make his point, and his furious reaction in Madrid ranked among his most striking appearances since returning to Spain.
Goals from Grimaldo, who converted a penalty, and Jonathan David secured a 2-1 win for Diego Simeone’s Atletico side. Antonio Rudiger scored late on, but his effort proved only a consolation.
What frustrated Mourinho and Real Madrid most was that Atletico finished the derby with all 11 players still on the pitch on their way to victory.
Mourinho’s print-outs included one tackle by Cristian Romero on Bellingham, which looked particularly bad upon second viewing but only drew a yellow card.
Kang-In Lee’s tackle on Fede Valverde went without punishment, while Huijsen got a straight red card for holding Giuliano Simeone inside the box.
In an official club statement, Real Madrid said: ‘Real Madrid lose the derby at the Metropolitano in a match marked by Ortiz Arias’ VERY TERRIBLE REFEREEING.
‘He failed to send off Cuti Romero in the first half for stepping on Bellingham’s knee (despite going to the monitor to review the incident), nor did he send off Kang-In Lee for stepping on Valverde’s left ankle.
‘Both decisions had an impact on the match, which was ultimately decided in Atlético’s favor in the second half.’
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham was furious at officials after Cristian Romero was not sent off
Frustration in Real Madrid’s ranks also extended to star man Jude Bellingham who was seen giving the referee a piece of his mind following the final whistle.
Footage showed the Englishman shouting ‘oh my god’ at Arias, before adding ‘two red cards!’
Bellingham was particularly aggrieved that Romero’s challenge on him did not see red when replays suggested that it was a sending off offence.
