MOURINHO: “I THOUGHT I’D FIND A DIFFERENT LA LIGA — I WAS WRONG”
September 20, 2026
NAIJASPORTAINMENT BLOG
Sunday, 20th September 2026
MOURINHO ARRIVES WITH PRINTED FOUL IMAGES AS REAL MADRID REFEREE ROW ESCALATES
José Mourinho took his criticism of the refereeing in Real Madrid’s Madrid derby defeat to another level, arriving at his post-match press conference with printed photographs of two controversial incidents involving Atlético Madrid players.
The Portuguese coach held up a sheet containing images of the challenges involving Cuti Romero and Jude Bellingham and Kang-in Lee and Federico Valverde, incidents Real Madrid had argued should have resulted in red cards
Mourinho told journalists that the photographs effectively represented the story of the match from his perspective.
The Real Madrid manager argued that had the two Atlético players been sent off, the match could have developed very differently, particularly after Real Madrid themselves were reduced to 10 men when Dean Huijsen was dismissed in the second half.
“THE HISTORY OF THE MATCH IS HERE”
Mourinho reportedly held up the printed images during the press conference while continuing his criticism of referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias and the VAR officials.
The incidents have become the centre of the post-match debate following Atlético Madrid’s 2–1 victory over Real Madrid at the Metropolitano.
Mourinho’s presentation of the images was particularly striking because, rather than simply discussing the incidents verbally, he came prepared with visual evidence that he wanted journalists to examine.
REAL MADRID UNHAPPY WITH OFFICIATING
Real Madrid had already publicly criticised the officiating, while Mourinho expanded on the club’s complaints during his press conference.
However, assessments of the incidents have not been completely uniform. Different former referees and analysts have offered differing interpretations of the challenges and the appropriate disciplinary sanctions.
What is undisputed is that the derby has ended with the refereeing decisions becoming one of the biggest talking points, alongside Atlético’s victory and Real Madrid’s controversial red card.
Mourinho has now made his position unmistakable — and he made sure the journalists in the room had the pictures to see for themselves.
By OLAWALE HAMZAT TOP STRIKER
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