Javier Tebas rejects Real Madrid’s refereeing complaints after Madrid derby

La Liga president Javier Tebas says Real Madrid did not lose the Madrid derby because of referee Ortiz Arias’ decisions, while acknowledging that some of the match’s most contentious incidents could reasonably be debated.

Tebas said he understood the club’s complaints, as well as those made by manager Jose Mourinho, but criticised the way they had been presented.

“I understand the complaints, but I absolutely do not accept the way they were made,” he said.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, Tebas reviewed several of the incidents that prompted Real Madrid’s protests and gave a firm assessment of their influence on the result.

“Real Madrid did not lose because of those decisions,” he said.

The first incident he addressed was the dismissal of Dean Huijsen, which Tebas regarded as an unequivocal red-card offence.

“That incident involving Huijsen was definitely a red card,” he said.

Tebas then considered Cristian Romero’s challenge on Jude Bellingham, another moment during the game that led to calls for a sending-off. He concluded that the defender should not have been dismissed.

“The other incident was not a red card. It was clear that he touched the ball first,” Tebas said.

A third disputed decision involved Kang-in Lee’s forceful challenge on Federico Valverde. The South Korea international caught the Real Madrid player’s ankle with the underside of his boot. Ortiz Arias awarded a foul but did not show a card, while the video assistant referee did not intervene.

Tebas accepted that the challenge could be interpreted in more than one way.

“It could be given as a red card, and it may look like a red card. If it had been given, nothing would have happened. If it was not given, the incident happened so quickly that I understand what took place, and that is the end of it,” he said.

The debate also extended to a post published by Atletico de Madrid on social media under the heading: “Stop refereeing intimidation now.”

Tebas said he had not seen the message, but used the issue to reiterate La Liga’s position on Real Madrid’s television channel.

“I have not seen the post. We reported the conduct of Real Madrid’s channel some time ago and, after what happened yesterday, we must continue to stand by ethical standards,” he said.

“It is an unfair and harsh way of putting pressure on the referee.”