Jose Mourinho, Manager of Real Madrid
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Real Madrid endured yet another night in La Liga where refereeing controversies overshadowed the football that played out on the pitch.
The only difference between the game against Atletico Madrid and the one against Villarreal was that the result eventually ended in Madrid’s favour.
According to MARCA (h/t Madrid Xtra), Madrid are said to support manager Jose Mourinho’s decision to avoid the media following the 1-0 victory over Villarreal.
The Portuguese manager was said to be concerned that his anger over the refereeing on display last night could lead to a suspension.
Mourinho feared losing his place on the touchline
The manager was said to have made his intentions very clear after the game.
“I’m not going to speak because I want to be on the bench against Sevilla and Barcelona,” Mourinho explained to those around him.
His frustration was evident throughout the encounter, which Madrid won through Yan Diomande’s second-half goal.
Jose Mourinho, Manager of Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho made a smart decision to not appear in front of the media after the Villarreal game. (Photo by Francisco Macia/Getty Images)
Vinicius’ dismissal for pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair proved particularly controversial, with the Brazilian also having a goal disallowed following a VAR review in the same move.
Mourinho had already expressed dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions during the derby defeat to Atletico Madrid, using printouts to make a point.
The decisions in the Villarreal game only added fuel to the fire, leaving the manager with the choice of not attending the press conference.
Madrid’s decision reflects the importance of upcoming fixtures
Mourinho’s next scheduled media appearance is Tuesday, ahead of Madrid’s Champions League meeting with Roma.
There is absolutely no doubt that he will be asked questions about the Villarreal game on this occasion, but Mourinho might choose to sidestep those questions.
The immediate priority is ensuring he remains available for important domestic fixtures against Sevilla and Barcelona.
Jose Mourinho, Manager of Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho will be keen to improve his team’s fortunes in the coming weeks. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
With Madrid struggling to deliver convincing performances so far this season, the last thing they need is for their manager to be unavailable on the touchline.
Mourinho must turn frustration into tactical solutions
The Mourinho of old might have come to the press conference and taken on the referees head-on, but this version of him seems to be much more mature.
His first spell at Madrid demonstrated how quickly public disputes with officials can dominate the conversation surrounding the team.
However, avoiding the press conference cannot allow Mourinho to overlook the tactical issues that his team are facing.
Madrid’s narrow victory exposed familiar weaknesses in possession, particularly their difficulty progressing the ball through midfield and creating chances.
Those issues need Mourinho’s attention more than refereeing decisions, which have already come and gone.
If Vinicius misses the Clasico, the manager must decide how to accommodate Diomande and whether Arda Guler can play a more central creative role.
It remains to be seen how Mourinho goes about improving the team ahead of an important El Clasico later this month.
Real Madrid TV launches fresh criticism at referees as relationship reaches breaking point
Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Three weeks since the Madrid derby, the controversy surrounding the refereeing in La Liga has resurfaced again.
Real Madrid had launched a strong criticism of the officiating in the derby as they believed that several decisions went against them.
And the events of the latest round of fixtures brought the issue back into focus. Indeed, the tensions escalated further after Vinicius Jr. was dismissed against Villarreal, with his red card also leading to the cancellation of a goal he had scored.
The dispute between Real Madrid and the refereeing authorities shows little sign of ending.
Real Madrid TV renews its criticism of the refereeing system
As reported by AS, Real Madrid TV launched another strong criticism of the refereeing system after the Merengues’ 1-0 win Villarreal on Saturday night.
The game ended with Vinicius sent off, five yellow cards shown to Real Madrid players, bookings for manager Jose Mourinho and team delegate Chendo, and a red card for goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos.
In total, Real Madrid received nine cards for players and members of the coaching staff, despite committing only eight fouls.
Jose Mourinho, Manager of Real Madrid
Mourinho was shown a yellow card. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
However, the club’s complaints, echoed by its official media channels, go beyond the statistics. They point to what they regard as a series of unfair decisions in both their own matches and those involving other teams.
The Alaves-Atletico incident in focus
An incident from the Alaves vs Atletico Madrid match this weekend was one example, where Angel Perez was sent off following a challenge on Julian Alvarez after VAR intervened.
Referee Quintero Gonzalez initially showed a yellow card, but video assistant Pulido Santana considered the incident a clear case for a straight red.
By contrast, a heavy challenge by Kang-in Lee on Federico Valverde during the Madrid derby went unpunished by referee Ortiz Arias and VAR Trujillo Suarez.
Previous hair-pulling incidents fuel Real Madrid’s complaints
The sense of grievance among the club and its supporters has been clear.
Within minutes of Vinicius’ dismissal, footage circulated widely on social media showing Victor Laguardia pulling Marcelo’s hair during Real Madrid’s match against Alaves in 2020.
No punishment was given for the incident, and a penalty appeal was also overlooked in a match Madrid lost 2-1.
Real Madrid TV revisited that footage alongside more recent incidents. The previous time Vinícius was sent off was during Real Madrid’s match against Valencia in January 2025.
Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid
Anger at Real Madrid over the refereeing inconsistencies. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
During a confrontation with Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, the goalkeeper grabbed the Brazilian to lift him off the ground, and Vinicius responded by pushing him around the neck. While the Real Madrid star was sent off, the Valencia player was not sanctioned.
These comparisons have become central to Real Madrid’s argument that similar incidents are not being judged consistently.
The Bernabeu turns against the referees
The Negreira case remains a major source of tension, and the latest red card only heightened the atmosphere.
Even before kick-off, chants of “Corruption in the Federation” had been heard repeatedly, alongside others such as “Negreira is still refereeing”.
Vinicius’s dismissal, and the subsequent cancellation of his goal, proved the final straw for the Bernabeu crowd. The chants grew louder and more widespread after the incident, reflecting the anger felt by sections of the home support.
For Real Madrid, the lack of a resolution in the Negreira case, combined with what the club regards as unfair refereeing decisions, continues to fuel dissatisfaction with the officials and the wider system.