Diego Simeone has urged Jose Mourinho to be cautious with his comments about referees after Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid in Sunday’s LaLiga derby.
Mourinho was unhappy with the officiating after Real Madrid were beaten by their city rivals, with the Portuguese manager directing particular criticism towards the referee’s appointment and the use of VAR.
The match took a decisive turn when Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen was sent off. Atletico took advantage of the numerical advantage as Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David found the net to put the hosts in control.
Real Madrid managed to respond through Antonio Rudiger, who reduced the deficit with a header, but Atletico Madrid held on to secure the victory.
Mourinho did not hide his frustration after the final whistle. The Real Madrid boss questioned the decision to appoint what he considered a young and inexperienced referee for such an important fixture.
He also raised concerns about the VAR official, pointing to the referee’s previous involvement in several incidents that Mourinho believed had gone against Real Madrid.
His comments quickly drew a response from Simeone, who called for greater caution when managers discuss match officials publicly.
The Atletico boss did not focus solely on the individual decisions from the derby but instead highlighted the broader responsibility managers have when speaking about referees.
Simeone’s warning comes at a time when officiating has remained a regular source of debate in Spanish football, particularly following high-profile matches where decisions can have a significant impact on the outcome.
For Atletico, however, the focus remained on the result. Despite conceding late through Rudiger, Simeone’s side managed to protect their advantage and claim the derby victory.
Mourinho’s criticism ensured that the discussion surrounding the match extended beyond Atletico’s performance, with the referee and VAR appointments becoming central to the post-match debate.
Simeone has now made his position clear: managers may question decisions, but he believes they should exercise care when publicly discussing the officials responsible for making them.
