Real Madrid lodge formal complaint over “catastrophic” derby officiating

Real Madrid have branded the officiating in the Madrid derby “catastrophic” after a night that ended with Jude Bellingham confronting referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias at full time.

Real formalise derby complaints

The club issued a statement soon after the match, arguing that key decisions lacked consistency and favoured Atletico Madrid. Real’s hierarchy focused particularly on first-half challenges involving Bellingham and Fede Valverde.

In its account of the 35th-minute incident, Real said Bellingham won a 50-50 ball before Cristian “Cuti” Romero caught him with his left foot. Ortiz Arias initially produced a yellow card and was then sent to the monitor by VAR official Trujillo Suarez to review the tackle.

• Romero’s studs-up challenge on Bellingham remained a yellow-card offence after the VAR check.
• Real also believed Kang-in Lee should have been punished more severely for a forceful challenge on Valverde.
• Madrid were later reduced to 10 men in the second half, leaving them with a numerical deficit as they chased the game.

Bellingham demands two dismissals

Bellingham’s frustration spilled onto the pitch immediately after the final whistle. Footage showed the England midfielder approaching Ortiz Arias and repeatedly shouting: “Two red cards! Two!”

The former Borussia Dortmund player was protesting the Romero and Kang-in Lee incidents, convinced Atletico should have lost two players before the interval. Those decisions became an even bigger source of anger once Real had a man sent off after the break.

Mourinho attacks appointment and wider climate

Jose Mourinho delivered an equally fierce assessment afterwards, questioning whether Ortiz Arias had the background required for a fixture of that scale.

“He had no experience for a derby,” Mourinho said of the 41-year-old official. “He is a poor referee who has only handled minor matches. Congratulations to the refereeing committee for that appointment.”

The Real manager also pointed to Trujillo’s previous history involving the club and broadened his criticism to the wider Spanish refereeing environment. Mourinho referenced the Negreira case while citing other disputed episodes, including Osasuna’s disallowed goal and an incident in San Sebastian.

“Things happen in this stadium which are not normal,” Mourinho said. “La Liga is the same as when I left. We will fight. My players leave sad. Negreira is not here, is he? Or is he still?”

What happens next

Real Madrid’s statement has put further pressure on the refereeing authorities to address the derby’s major flashpoints. The club’s anger centres on why Atletico players escaped red cards in the first half before Real were left to play the second period with 10 men.