The noise from Madrid has not faded with the final whistle. Two days after Real Madrid’s 2-1 derby defeat away to their city rivals, Javier Tebas has accused the club of using refereeing complaints to distract from shortcomings visible in the opening weeks of the season.
Tebas rejects Real Madrid’s refereeing narrative
The Liga president responded on Tuesday morning after Real Madrid voiced strong objections to decisions made during Sunday’s derby, both through their own television channel and in public comments.
Tebas said the suggestion that officials were working against Real Madrid was detached from reality. In his view, the argument offered the club a convenient explanation for issues that should instead be addressed on the pitch.
- Real Madrid lost the derby 2-1 on Sunday.
- The club criticised several decisions from referee Ortiz Arias.
- Tebas said allegations of an anti-Real Madrid refereeing campaign were being used as an excuse.
- He argued that the team’s early-season problems were plain to see without invoking a conspiracy.
“Claiming that referees are against Real Madrid is to live on another planet,” Tebas said. “It is easier to point to a conspiracy than to explain what is happening on the field.”
Three flashpoints from the derby
The Spanish league chief addressed the main controversial incidents individually, taking a firm stance on the dismissal of Huijsen while offering a more nuanced reading of the other challenges.
- Huijsen’s red card: Tebas described the sending-off as beyond debate.
- Cristian Romero challenge: He felt the tackle did not warrant a red card because Romero played the ball first.
- Kang-In Lee on Federico Valverde: Tebas accepted that Lee’s high challenge could have brought a dismissal, particularly given the danger to Valverde, who may face a lengthy injury absence.
On Lee’s tackle, Tebas said a red card would have been understandable, but added that the speed of the move also explained why the officials may have allowed play to continue.
His broader conclusion was clear: whatever the debate around the individual calls, Real Madrid did not lose the match because of those incidents.
Mourinho and club television intensify pressure
José Mourinho had already criticised Ortiz Arias in his post-match press conference, saying the official was “not a great referee”. He pointed to photographs as evidence for what he considered two obvious red cards that were not shown.
That line was repeated by Real Madrid’s club television channel, whose coverage has become part of the wider dispute around the derby.
Tebas condemned that approach, describing it as an unfair and cruel attempt to put pressure on the referee. For the Liga president, the argument has moved beyond one difficult afternoon in Madrid and into a familiar battle over accountability after defeat.
