Madrid’s derby arguments have travelled well beyond the stadium in the two days since Atlético Madrid’s 2-1 home win over Real Madrid on LaLiga matchday seven. What began with frustration over Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias’s refereeing has become another argument about the limits of criticism, with Javier Tebas urging Real Madrid to separate genuine disagreement from sustained pressure on officials.
José Mourinho gave the dispute its most memorable image after the match, taking two stills into his press conference to illustrate decisions he believed had gone against his side. The Portuguese coach’s presentation prompted discussion over whether his conduct could bring disciplinary consequences. Tebas did not say what action, if any, might follow, but made clear that he disapproved of the manner in which the complaints were made.
A derby dispute that has not faded
The LaLiga president’s view was that the disputed calls did not explain Real Madrid’s defeat. Discussing the incident involving Cristian “Cuti” Romero and Jude Bellingham, Tebas said he did not believe a sending-off was warranted because Romero played the ball first.
He saw more room for debate in the challenge between Lee Kang-in and Federico Valverde, after which the Real Madrid midfielder was injured. Tebas said a red card could have been given and would not have been an unreasonable decision, but stressed how quickly the sequence unfolded and accepted that the officials had reached a different conclusion.
For Tebas, neither moment amounted to an attempt to harm Real Madrid deliberately. His wider concern was that the club have repeatedly turned refereeing grievances into a public campaign after adverse results.
He referred to Real Madrid TV’s past output on match officials, a practice LaLiga had already formally challenged. Tebas described that approach as unfair and cruel pressure on referees, and called for an ethical line to be maintained after the derby.
Atlético, whose victory set the backdrop for the row, added its own message on social media: “Stop the harassment of referees now.” In a city accustomed to derby heat, the latest exchange has left the result intact but the argument still moving through Spanish football.
