Real Madrid lose Madrid derby to Atletico, then slam referee Ortiz Arias as 'not able to handle pressure'

As the ball settled and the final whistle echoed around the Metropolitano at 90+4, the Atletico Madrid fans exploded in celebration, but Real Madrid's technical area was engulfed in a heavy atmosphere. The 1-2 defeat was not only about losing three points. It was also a night when Real Madrid became convinced that the whistle of referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias had shaped the game in its most decisive moments. The Madrid derby took place on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at the Metropolitano Stadium. It was one of the most anticipated matches of the round, as Real Madrid visited Atletico with both clubs needing a win in the La Liga title race. From the first half, the game was played at a tense pace. However, the biggest turning point came early in the second half when Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen was shown a direct red card. It was a controversial situation, but with Ortiz Arias judging it as a serious foul, Real Madrid were forced to play with ten men for much of the remaining time. Losing a player early in the second half completely changed the picture. Atletico Madrid immediately took advantage of their numerical superiority and increased the pressure. Alejandro Grimaldo opened the scoring with a low, precise strike that the Real Madrid goalkeeper could not stop. Jonathan David then doubled the lead for the home side with a sharp counterattack. Despite being a man down, Real Madrid tried to reorganize and found a late goal in the 89th minute through Antonio Ruediger, who headed home powerfully from a cross following a set piece. However, the goal came too late to change the final outcome. Based on my experience watching many Madrid derbies, the key point lies not only in Huijsen's red card, but also in how Ortiz Arias handled the collisions in sensitive areas. Real Madrid did not complain about Huijsen's red card, but they reacted strongly to two situations where they believed Atletico players also deserved red cards. In the official report sent to the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Real Madrid stated that the referee failed to send off Cristian Romero after he fouled Jude Bellingham. Specifically, Romero was accused of stepping on Bellingham's knee during a challenge, even though the referee had the chance to review the footage on the monitor. The second situation involved Lee Kang-in's tackle on Federico Valverde, when the Atletico player was accused of stepping on the left ankle of the Uruguayan midfielder. Real Madrid published the excerpt from their official match report after the game, strongly criticizing Ortiz Arias. The club claimed that the failure to send off Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-in were crucial decisions that directly affected the outcome. Real Madrid also insisted that if those situations had been punished correctly, the match could have gone in a different direction. Immediately after the final whistle, Real Madrid continued to express their anger through social media, turning the derby into a major talking point among Spanish football fans. Head coach Jose Mourinho did not hide his disappointment when he appeared in the post-match press conference. The Portuguese coach brought two photos showing Lee Kang-in's tackle on Valverde and Cristian Romero's foul on Bellingham. As soon as he entered the room, Mourinho held up the two photos and said: "The history of the match is here." That statement was understood as a way of stressing that clear violations had been ignored by the referee, leaving an indelible mark on the game. Mourinho then questioned why Ortiz Arias, a 41-year-old referee with little international experience, had been appointed to control a Madrid derby. He said: "All of this is very strange. He is a referee who, at the age of 41, has no international experience. I do not know why he was appointed. This man came here and could not handle the pressure." Mourinho's statements showed that his anger was not only about the result. He also mentioned several controversial decisions from previous La Liga games, as if trying to argue that Ortiz Arias was not a new problem. However, it is worth asking the opposite question: are Real Madrid exaggerating the referee's influence? In this match, Atletico Madrid were better in terms of maintaining pressure and taking chances. Even before Huijsen was sent off, Atletico showed a more dominant and sharper approach in attack. The red card affected Real Madrid's structure, but it is also true that the visitors' defending in aerial duels and quick transitions was exploited repeatedly by Atletico. Notably, Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-in are both aggressive players with a tendency to make hard tackles. But from a legal perspective, whether a challenge deserves punishment depends on the severity, the contact area and the player's intention. Real Madrid claimed that the referee reviewed the Romero incident with Bellingham on the screen and still refused to produce a red card. That raised even more suspicion about his ability to control the match. If a referee watches the video and still fails to make the right decision, then the pressure from the Metropolitano crowd may have partly influenced his choices. From a tactical point of view, Mourinho's Real Madrid showed character in the final stage despite playing with ten men. Ruediger's goal came after a series of sustained attacks, creating a thrilling finale. However, Atletico managed to protect the 2-1 scoreline and claim a significant victory. The most unfortunate moment for Real Madrid was that they could not keep enough players on the pitch at the moment they needed to push forward. Huijsen's straight red card forced Mourinho to reshape his plans, and that affected the visitors' attacking rhythm. The story about referee Ortiz Arias will certainly not end with Real Madrid's official report. The Royal Spanish Football Federation may open an investigation or ask the referee to explain the controversial decisions. Real Madrid could also submit additional video evidence. But the bigger question is: should a referee without international experience be put in charge of the Madrid derby? The pressure from more than 60,000 spectators, the physical challenges and the reputation of both clubs is not something every referee can handle. Mourinho, who has a reputation for putting pressure on officials, may be deliberately steering the discussion in a direction that benefits his team. But with the images he brought to the press conference, there are also reasons for the public to question the standard of refereeing in La Liga. The Madrid derby of September 20, 2026 will be remembered as one of the most heated matches of the season, not only because of the 1-2 result but also because of the war off the pitch between Real Madrid and referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias. The final question is not whether Real Madrid were wronged, but what Spanish football needs to do to ensure that the biggest matches are controlled by referees with enough courage and judgment. When Atletico's victory is questioned, and when Mourinho has to carry two photos as evidence of history, that is when La Liga must take a close look at itself. The winning side has the right to celebrate, but a victory in a match where two red-card incidents were ignored will always be questioned. Atletico Madrid played better, but Real Madrid are also entitled to expect absolute fairness from the referee. When football loses its fairness, the value of trophies is gradually eroded. This Madrid derby is not only the story of Grimaldo, Jonathan David or Ruediger. It is also a story about the trust of fans in the decisions made on the pitch. And when that trust cracks, whether at Real Madrid or Atletico, football will no longer be the game of the great artists on the pitch.