Real Madrid News
Mourinho avoids sanction as referees drop complaint over Real Madrid derby remarks
Jose Mourinho will not face a disciplinary complaint over his post-match comments following Real Madrid’s Madrid derby defeat to Atletico.
The Real Madrid manager had been facing the possibility of a case being opened after his criticism of referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias and VAR official Daniel Trujillo Suarez.
However, after considering the matter, Mundo Deportivo reports that the refereeing union AESAF and the legal department of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) have decided not to pursue a complaint with the Disciplinary Committee at this stage.
That decision means Mourinho avoids the immediate threat of a suspension or financial penalty over his comments.
Mourinho criticism does not lead to formal complaint
The potential complaint centred on remarks Mourinho made after Real Madrid’s derby defeat, with particular attention paid to his assessment of the officials.
The Portuguese questioned Ortiz Arias’ experience, pointing out that the 41-year-old is not an international referee and had not previously taken charge of a match of comparable importance.
Mourinho also turned his attention to Trujillo Suarez, the VAR official during the game, while referring back to incidents involving Real Madrid from the previous season.
Those comments were enough for AESAF and the CTA’s legal department to consider whether the matter should be referred to the federation’s Disciplinary Committee.
Notably, such a move could have resulted in an investigation into the Real Madrid boss.
Real Madrid boss avoids possible four-match ban
For now, that process will not begin, as the complaint has been dismissed following Monday’s deliberations, meaning Mourinho will remain available to lead Real Madrid without a disciplinary case hanging over him.
Had the matter been taken forward and resulted in a sanction, Mourinho could have faced a four-match suspension and a fine between €601 and €3,005.06.
The decision is therefore significant for Real Madrid, particularly with Mourinho already under pressure to keep his side competitive after the derby setback.
For the Portuguese, the focus can now return to the pitch rather than a potential disciplinary hearing.
His criticism of the officials has generated debate, but the refereeing authorities have ultimately opted against escalating the matter.
Real Madrid’s recent win over Villarreal certainly had its tense and controversial moments, most of them involving Vinicius Jr.
But the biggest silver lining for Los Blancos was Yan Diomande scoring his first goal for the club following his €140 million move from RB Leipzig.
Diomande’s slow start had made him a subject of much criticism in the media. In the first game after the international break, however, the forward opened his account, and he used the moment to pay tribute to his sister, who died at the age of 15, reports MARCA.
Diomande’s tribute to his late sister
On the hour mark, Federico Valverde slipped him through and the Ivorian finished low across goal for the game’s only strike.
Once VAR confirmed it, he walked away from his celebrating teammates, closed his eyes and broke down in tears, his gaze fixed on the sky.
He later explained the emotion in his post-match interview. “This means more than words can say. My first goal is for you, sister. Forever in my heart.”
Roxane died in 2025 at just 15, having believed in her brother long before anyone else did. From the age of ten she had acted as his biggest champion, and ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Diomande shared their story in a letter published in The Players’ Tribune.
“Everything I do on the field is for you,” he wrote.
Staking a claim for more minutes
Diomande’s goal against Villarreal also carried a lot of weight, in terms of his standing in the team.
“I’d been waiting for that first goal for a long time,” Diomande admitted on Real Madrid TV. His display offered a glimpse of his value, with four successful dribbles, the pace to stretch Villarreal and the movement to create space for Kylian Mbappe.
With Vinicius facing a possible and lengthened domestic suspension, the 19-year-old has a timely chance to claim a more prominent role.
He is also relishing a first taste of the Champions League. “It’s every child’s dream, and I’m very grateful to be doing it with Real Madrid.”
So it will be interesting to see whether or not Diomande gets more chances to perform in the coming matches, before Real Madrid prepare for the big fight against Barcelona.
