Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Real Madrid are “living in another galaxy” if they believe LaLiga’s officials are biased against them, the competition’s president Javier Tebas said amid a fierce debate over refereeing standards.
Madrid were beaten 2-1 by Atletico Madrid in Sunday’s derby at the Estadio Metropolitano, but the controversial nature of their loss sparked a furious reaction from Los Blancos.
Jose Mourinho’s team had Dean Huijsen sent off for a last-man foul early in the second half, but Madrid felt Lee Kang-in and Cristian Romero should have seen red for Atleti, the former for a high challenge on Federico Valverde and the latter for treading on Jude Bellingham.
Mourinho brought printed images of both incidents to his post-match press conference, saying they were the “story of the game” and describing referee Ortiz Arias as weak and inexperienced.
Atleti hit back on their social media channels on Monday, posting an image taken during Mourinho’s press conference alongside the caption: “Stop referee harassment now.”
Madrid used the title “a terrible refereeing performance decides the derby” for their official club-produced match report, accompanied by images of the Lee and Romero challenges.
And Tebas – who has criticised Madrid’s treatment of referees and desire to set up a breakaway European Super League in the past – has now slammed the club’s behaviour.
A dreadful refereeing performance decides the derby.https://t.co/4bCOqYmg4j
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) September 20, 2026
“Here they go again, the mouthpieces and the regime’s television, building the same old narrative: the permanent conspiracy,” Tebas wrote on X, responding to a Spanish media article that alleged referees routinely favour Madrid’s opponents.
“Claiming that referees are directed against Real Madrid is living in another galaxy.
“That narrative serves as an excuse to cover up other shortcomings that are plain to see in these first matches of the season.
“It’s more comfortable to point to a conspiracy than to explain what’s happening on the pitch.
“GET THE BLINDERS OFF! It’s September, and they’re already claiming the League is tainted. Nobody with common sense believes that old excuse anymore.”
Madrid previously sent a formal letter of complaint about LaLiga’s referees to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in 2025, prompting Tebas to accuse Madrid of harming the competition and “building a story of victimhood.”
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