Real Madrid ban player interviews after derby defeat amid refereeing fury

Real Madrid have stopped their players from speaking to the media after their 2-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid, with the club concerned that angry comments about the refereeing could lead to disciplinary sanctions.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, the decision was taken after tensions reached a peak inside the Real Madrid dressing room following the Madrid derby. The club wanted to prevent any player from making statements that might result in punishment for their comments about the officials or incidents during the match.

Real Madrid’s players were particularly unhappy with a series of decisions during the game. They believed Cuti Romero and Kang-in Lee should have been sent off for strong challenges involving Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde respectively.

AS reported that the frustration in the dressing room was obvious, with some players heard using strong language to criticise the standard of refereeing. That prompted Real Madrid to act quickly in an attempt to protect members of the squad from possible sanctions.

Atletico Madrid secured the capital derby with two second-half goals. Alex Grimaldo opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Jonathan David made it 2-0 after Real Madrid were reduced to 10 men when Dean Huijsen was sent off in the 52nd minute.

Antonio Rudiger pulled a goal back in the 89th minute, but Real Madrid could not find an equaliser and the home side held on for victory.

The result moved Atletico Madrid up to second place with 16 points, while Real Madrid dropped to fourth on 15 points. They are one point behind both Atletico Madrid and Real Betis, and six points adrift of leaders Barcelona, who finished the seventh round with 21 points.

Wider anger over refereeing decisions

Real Madrid’s complaints were not limited to one incident. The players also felt the referee had failed to punish two early challenges by Alex Baena on Arda Guler, which they believed warranted yellow cards.

The strongest reaction came in the second half when Kang-in Lee challenged Valverde. Real Madrid’s players considered the tackle serious enough to merit a red card and were further angered when the on-field referee was not sent to the video assistant referee monitor to review the incident.

Their frustration was heightened by the fact that Valverde had previously been sent off in an earlier derby against Atletico Madrid for a challenge that Real Madrid regarded as less serious than Kang-in Lee’s tackle.

The incident also had consequences during the interval, when Antonio Rudiger became involved in an altercation with Holmund. The confrontation ended with members of both clubs’ coaching staffs being sent off.