Ortiz Arias comments resurface after Real Madrid’s criticism of Madrid derby officials

Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias has defended referees after the Madrid Football Federation republished comments he made before the season, shortly after his controversial display in the derby between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

The decision to share the interview was interpreted by Spanish media as an indirect response to Real Madrid’s criticism of the officiating in Sunday’s match at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

Ortiz Arias was at the centre of debate following several incidents, including calls for Atletico Madrid players Kang-in Lee and Cristian Romero to be shown red cards. Real Madrid subsequently expressed its dissatisfaction through comments attributed to Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho, its official club channel and formal statements from the club’s administration.

The match also marked a historic moment before kick-off, as Ortiz Arias became the first referee from Madrid to take charge of the capital’s derby. His appointment ended a long-standing practice linked to regional principles in the refereeing committee’s selection process.

‘Referees are the easiest target’

After the match, the Madrid Football Federation’s official social media accounts republished extracts from an interview with Ortiz Arias, originally recorded before the current campaign.

The referee said clubs often blamed officials for defeats instead of looking for the real reasons behind their results.

“Referees are the easiest link. When I make mistakes and do not want people to direct criticism at me, I blame the referee for the error or the defeat because he will not answer back. Everyone accepts that narrative. Many clubs do it,” Ortiz Arias said, according to Spanish newspaper Sport.

He acknowledged that referees sometimes make difficult decisions or apply rules that supporters struggle to understand.

“We sometimes make decisions that may be wrong, or difficult for people to understand. Quite often, we apply the regulations correctly, but people do not understand them, such as in cases involving handball. Ultimately, we are not the people who create the guidance or the rules,” he said.

“We apply the rules in the same way that a judge applies criminal or civil law.”

Ortiz Arias also contrasted the questions referees face with the treatment of players after matches.

“What will a journalist ask me? Why did you not award the penalty? I do not know any journalist who asks a player, ‘Why did you miss the penalty?’ He wanted to score it,” he said.

“I want to get every penalty, red card and decision right, naturally, because that would make me better at my job. People should understand that.”

Negreira case ‘caused major damage’

Ortiz Arias, who has officiated in Spain’s top flight since 2021, also discussed the Negreira case and its impact on Spanish refereeing.

“There is much more violence now. I go to a stadium to watch my sons and hear chants accusing referees of corruption. We have been put under the spotlight,” he said.

He asked supporters to distinguish between the actions of individuals and those of the wider refereeing system.

“Imagine you work for a company and one of its executives did things he should not have done. Does that make you corrupt? I certainly do not think so,” Ortiz Arias said.

He added that the case had caused “a great deal of damage” and said the situation was beginning to improve, although “it is costing us a lot”.