Atletico tell Mourinho to stop referee intimidation after Madrid derby

Atletico de Madrid have responded to Jose Mourinho’s complaints about the refereeing in Sunday’s derby defeat for Real Madrid with a video featuring their own A4 sheet.

The Madrid derby was won by the home side in a tense contest in which Kang-In Lee and Cristian Romero committed serious fouls. Mourinho believed both incidents should have resulted in red cards, although neither player was dismissed.

Before speaking at his post-match news conference, Mourinho had photographs of the challenges printed out. He then held up the A4 sheet to journalists, arguing that Real Madrid had been seriously disadvantaged and that referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias had performed poorly.

“??This referee had no experience of derbies. He is 41 years old. He is a bad referee who has only officiated in the lower divisions,” Mourinho said after displaying the photographs.

“Congratulations to the refereeing committee for this appointment!”

Real Madrid also issued an official statement shortly afterwards, largely criticising the standard of the officiating.

Atletico responded through their official channels on the day after the match. A video shared on social media shows a sheet of A4 paper emerging from a printer.

The page carries a photograph of Mourinho during Sunday’s news conference, alongside the message: “Stop intimidating referees.”