Real Madrid and Atletico staff members sent off after half-time derby brawl

A confrontation between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid players and coaching staff broke out in the tunnel at half-time of Atletico’s 2-1 victory in the Madrid derby, with Antonio Rudiger and Morten Hjulmand identified as the central figures.

The incident was detailed in the referee’s report by Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias, who said the altercation was “caused by Rudiger and Hjulmand”. What initially appeared to involve pushing and verbal abuse twice threatened to become more serious.

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper coach Pablo Vercellone and Jose Mourinho’s assistant, Pedro Machado, were both shown straight red cards. According to the report, they were dismissed for having “provoked a collective altercation between the players and coaches of both teams”.

Neither member of staff was allowed to return to the substitutes’ bench for the second half.

The tunnel incident added to a heated aftermath following Atletico’s win. Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen was sent off during the match, while Real Madrid expressed anger that Kang-In Lee and Cristian Romero had not also been shown red cards.

Mourinho made his frustration clear after the final whistle, prompting a forceful response from Atletico manager Diego Simeone.

The row therefore extended beyond the match itself, with the half-time confrontation becoming a central part of the controversy surrounding the derby.