Mourinho links Real Madrid’s six-point gap to Barcelona with refereeing decisions

Jose Mourinho renewed his criticism of refereeing after Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid, suggesting recent decisions had contributed to the six-point gap separating his side from La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Real Madrid remain on 15 points after the seventh-round loss, behind Atletico Madrid on 16 and Barcelona, who lead the table with 21 points.

Asked about the difference between Real Madrid and Barcelona, Mourinho referred to several incidents in recent matches involving both clubs and implied that refereeing decisions had played a part in the widening gap.

“We saw some things at this stadium this week: the goal that was disallowed for Osasuna against Atletico Madrid because of a foul on Lucas Torro, and the penalty that was not awarded to Real Madrid in San Sebastian against Real Sociedad,” Mourinho said.

“After all that, you cannot help but laugh.”

Mourinho was speaking only minutes after Real Madrid lost the Madrid derby, a match that also featured considerable controversy over the officials’ decisions.

Real Madrid disputed a number of calls during the game, before Dean Huijsen was sent off early in the second half while the score remained 0-0.

The Portuguese manager had already made his view clear at the post-match news conference, where he arrived carrying printed images of several refereeing incidents that had prompted his objections.