Real Madrid released a hard-hitting statement following their 2-1 defeat against Atletico Madrid, launching a severe critique of match official Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias.
"The club feels profoundly aggrieved after a series of major refereeing decisions heavily influenced the outcome of the high-stakes Madrid derby," according to team insiders.
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SubscribeThe controversy ignited during a tense first half when Cristian Romero escaped a red card for stepping on Jude Bellingham's knee, despite a pitchside monitor review.
Furthermore, Los Blancos expressed fury that Lee Kang-in avoided punishment for a challenge on Federico Valverde that ultimately left the Uruguayan midfielder injured.
Growing Discontent Over Officiating Standards
Manager Jose Mourinho did not hold back in his post-match press conference, echoing the club's official stance that officiating errors directly dictated the final scoreline.
The frustration at the RiyadhAir Metropolitano extended beyond specific disciplinary calls as the visitors watched Dean Huijsen receive a straight red card later in the match.
Club representatives argued that correct application of the rules in the opening half would have completely altered the trajectory of the fiercely contested fixture.
"We witnessed decisions that fundamentally compromised sporting fairness in one of the most important matches of the season," the official statement read regarding the match officiating.