LaLiga Rejects Referee Claims
LaLiga President Rejects Real Madrid Referee Conspiracy Claims Following Derby Defeat
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Key Points
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Real Madrid were eventually reduced to 10 men when defender Dean Huijsen was sent off for bringing down Giuliano Simeone inside the penalty area, after which Atlético secured the 2-1 victory.
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Mourinho argued that Atlético should have finished the first half with nine players, saying: “Those were two clear red cards. Given the difficulties we faced afterwards playing 11 against 10, we can only imagine what 50 minutes of 11 against nine would have been like.”
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The derby reshaped the early standings: Barcelona had won all seven league matches and led the table, Atlético rose to second with 16 points, while Real Madrid were fourth on 15 points.
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Tebas has a history of conflict with Real Madrid and Florentino Pérez, including disputes over the proposed European Super League and a 2025 Real Madrid complaint to the Spanish Football Federation about La Liga refereeing.
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Mourinho returned to the Santiago Bernabéu for a second spell during the close-season, with the task of ending Real Madrid’s two-year wait for a major trophy.
LaLiga President Javier Tebas rejected Real Madrid's claims of refereeing bias following the club's 2-1 derby loss to Atlético Madrid, calling the allegations an excuse for poor performance on the pitch. Tebas stated, "Here they go again, the mouthpieces and the regime's television, building the same old narrative — the permanent conspiracy. It's more comfortable to point to a conspiracy than to explain what's happening on the pitch." Real Madrid manager José Mourinho had presented screenshots at his post-match press conference alleging two unpunished red-card offenses by Atlético players.
The defeat left Real Madrid four points behind second-place Atlético Madrid and six points adrift of league leaders Barcelona after seven matches. Defender Dean Huijsen was sent off in the 52nd minute for fouling Giuliano Simeone in the penalty area. Mourinho said the match would have looked very different had Atlético finished with nine players: "Those were two clear red cards. Given the difficulties we faced afterwards playing 11 against 10, we can only imagine what 50 minutes of 11 against nine would have been like."
Mourinho's Red Card Screenshots Spark Fury
José Mourinho arrived at his post-match news conference armed with printed images showing alleged fouls by Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-in on Real Madrid players Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde. Mourinho argued both incidents deserved immediate expulsion under standard refereeing rules. The 41-year-old match referee, Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias, did not penalize either play. Mourinho questioned his competency, saying: "The referee had no experience to officiate a derby. He's a poor referee who's only ever done minor matches."
VAR officials confirmed that Huijsen's sending-off in the 52nd minute met protocol guidelines, validating the decision to send off the Real Madrid defender. Independent refereeing analysts cited by Spanish media outlets supported the VAR intervention. Atlético capitalized on the numerical advantage, with goals from Alex Grimaldo and Jonathan David sealing the 2-1 victory.
Tebas Defends League Integrity Against Elite Club Pressure
Tebas emphasized that LaLiga belongs to all 42 member clubs, not just Real Madrid. He stated: "I am neither the owner of LaLiga nor will I manage it as if it belonged to a single club. I respect everyone. I am beholden to no one." The LaLiga president dismissed claims of systemic bias, arguing Real Madrid must accept accountability for tactical shortcomings. Tebas also pushed back on narratives that disparage other clubs competing for the title.
Real Madrid fired back on September 22, issuing an official statement demanding Tebas's resignation. The club described his conduct as "intolerable" and called for "a leader capable of managing [Spanish soccer] with the fundamental duty of neutrality." Tebas replied directly that evening, standing firm on his position and refusing to step aside.
Long-Running Feud Between Tebas and Real Madrid Intensifies
The Madrid derby controversy has reignited a deep institutional conflict between Tebas and Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez. The two have clashed repeatedly over the proposed European Super League, centralized TV rights, and league governance. In 2025, Real Madrid formally complained to Spain's Football Federation alleging systemic refereeing bias. Mourinho's return to the Bernabéu during the close-season has amplified tensions, as the manager brings his signature confrontational media tactics.
Mourinho was hired to end Real Madrid's two-year major trophy drought. His media strategy of questioning official competency now risks disciplinary action from Spain's Football Federation. Media analysts note that while Mourinho's complaints distract from tactical shortcomings, they also intensify pressure on domestic officials. The dispute threatens LaLiga's global reputation and could force an extraordinary assembly of all member clubs to address governance reform.
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