Mourinho shows images of two alleged red cards after Atletico beat Real 2-1
Jose Mourinho criticised the match officials after Real Madrid's 2-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby at the Metropolitano on September 20, 2026, presenting printed images of two first-half incidents during his post-match press conference.
Mourinho entered the media room holding a sheet of paper containing pictures of two challenges and told reporters those images summed up the game. He said Cristian Romero should have been sent off for a stamp on Jude Bellingham and that Lee Kang-in deserved a red for a challenge on Federico Valverde, adding: "We could skip the press conference because the story of the match is right here," and, "Those were two clear red cards."
The coach argued the refereeing decisions altered the balance of the match, saying that if both Atletico players had been dismissed Real Madrid would have had "50 minutes of 11 against 9." He referenced the impact of the subsequent sending-off on his team, saying: "The difficulties we've faced since the sending-off. 11 against 10. Well, we can imagine what 50 minutes of 11 against 9 would have been like if justice had been done."
Five minutes after the interval Real went down to 10 men when defender Dean Huijsen was shown a red card for bringing down Giuliano Simeone inside the area as the last defender. Alejandro Grimaldo converted the resulting penalty to give Atletico the lead and Jonathan David added a second six minutes later; Antonio Ruediger later reduced the deficit with a header but Atletico held on for the win and, the club took the points and moved above their city rivals in the table.
Mourinho made clear his frustration was aimed at the officials rather than his players, praising his squad's effort and temperament before the red card. "I have to limit myself to hugging my players, who gave everything," he said, adding: "They played a first half of great quality, of great personality."
He questioned the choice of referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias, noting the official is 41 and "has no international experience," and criticised the handling of Video Assistant Referee Daniel Jesus Trujillo. "They've put a referee, aged 41, with no international experience - it's certainly not because he's a great referee," Mourinho said. "This combination... a referee, poor referee, who has only done tiny little matches, and a VAR official with a big history... well, congratulations to the referee appointment committee," he added.
When asked specifically about Huijsen's dismissal Mourinho conceded he had not reviewed the incident on his iPad and said he did not want to make a firm judgement on whether the foul had started inside or o
