‘There are red lines that cannot be crossed’ – Atletico Madrid blast Jose Mourinho over refereeing ‘harassment’ after derby victory

Mourinho’s criticism of referee was remarkably specific and scathing, even by his own lofty standards for controversy. During his post-match analysis, he questioned why a 41-year-old official who lacks international accreditation was selected for a fixture of such immense magnitude. The former Chelsea and Inter boss suggested that the referee was simply incapable of managing the emotional weight of a Madrid derby.

“It’s all been very strange,” Mourinho said on Sunday. “First of all, the referee was known a week before the match, but I’m told that’s usually announced just 24 hours in advance. Then he is a 41-year-old referee who isn’t on the international list, so it can’t be because he’s a great referee. The poor guy came here and couldn’t handle the pressure.”