Real Madrid News
VAR audio from Atletico vs Real Madrid derby reveals what referees said over controversial calls
The Technical Referees’ Committee (CTA) has released the VAR audio from the two incidents that required video intervention during Atletico Madrid’s derby victory over Real Madrid, offering insight into the decisions involving Cristian Romero, Jude Bellingham and Dean Huijsen.
The recordings cover two separate reviews involving match referee Ortiz Arias.
The first centred on a case of mistaken identity after Romero stepped on Bellingham, while the second concerned the penalty and eventual red card awarded to Huijsen for his challenge on Giuliano Simeone.
Notably, the audio does not provide an explanation for why VAR did not intervene over Kang-in Lee’s challenge on Federico Valverde, an incident that CTA has admitted as an error by the referee.
VAR audio explains Romero and Bellingham incident
The first review began after Ortiz Arias initially penalised Bellingham and showed the Real Madrid midfielder a yellow card.
The VAR team did not immediately recommend a review for a possible red card to Romero. Instead, the intervention was triggered because the referee appeared to have identified the wrong player as the offender.
The VAR official told Ortiz Arias: “Miguel, I’d recommend a review so you can assess a potential case of mistaken identity.”
He then explained exactly what had been identified on the footage: “I can see that it’s the Atletico Madrid player who steps on the Real Madrid player. And it’s the Real Madrid player who touches the ball.”
🗣 AUDIO REVISIÓN VAR
— RFEF (@rfef) September 20, 2026
🗓 Jornada 7 | Primera División
⚽ @Atleti 🆚 @realmadrid | 49’#ArbitrajeRFEF | @CTARFEF pic.twitter.com/ID94ZCFNDW
After going to the monitor, Ortiz Arias corrected the initial decision and removed Bellingham’s booking.
“Right, I’m going to rescind the yellow card for the Real Madrid player and show a yellow card to the Atlético player. Is that OK?”
The recording therefore confirms that the review was initiated because of mistaken identity rather than a direct VAR recommendation for a red card.
Huijsen red card decision explained by VAR
The second recording concerns the incident that ultimately left Real Madrid with ten men.
Ortiz Arias initially awarded Atletico a penalty after Huijsen pulled back Giuliano Simeone and showed the Madrid defender a yellow card.
VAR official Trujillo Suarez then intervened, highlighting the nature of the challenge:
“I can see that the Real Madrid player is holding the opponent back, with no chance of contesting the ball, in a clear goal-scoring opportunity.”
🗣 AUDIO REVISIÓN VAR
— RFEF (@rfef) September 20, 2026
🗓 Jornada 7 | Primera División
⚽ @Atleti 🆚 @realmadrid | 49’#ArbitrajeRFEF | @CTARFEF pic.twitter.com/ID94ZCFNDW
The review changed the referee’s assessment of the incident. Ortiz Arias acknowledged that his initial interpretation had been influenced by the position of the goalkeeper.
“Right, I’d interpreted that the goalkeeper could have got there. The goalkeeper isn’t within reach. I’m going to change the yellow card to a red one and uphold the penalty.”
The decision left Real Madrid playing with ten men for the remainder of the match.
Kang-in Lee and Valverde incident remains unexplained
One major piece of the derby controversy is still missing from the released audio.
There was no VAR intervention over Kang-in Lee’s challenge on Valverde, meaning no conversation between the referee and video assistant regarding that incident has been published.
That is particularly relevant given the subsequent debate over whether the Atletico midfielder should have been sent off.
The released recordings, thus, clarify why the two VAR reviews took place and how Ortiz Arias reached his final decisions, but they do not explain the decision not to review the Kang-in Lee challenge, leaving one of the most disputed moments of the Madrid derby unresolved.
Jose Mourinho is looking for solutions to Real Madrid’s problems, and the extended international break has given him time to analyse the team in depth.
Now, according to Defensa Central, one of the conclusions from his assessment concerns Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva and Arda Guler, the players Mourinho believes should be central to the team’s football.
Although they operate in different positions, the manager wants all four to take a step forward on the pitch.
He wants them to push their lines higher and move closer to the opposition penalty area, believing this would help Real Madrid both defensively and offensively.
Mourinho wants to pin opponents inside their own box
Mourinho wants Real Madrid’s play to go through Bellingham, Valverde, Bernardo and Guler, but he has also asked them to start creating attacks much closer to the opposition area and to link up more closely with the forwards.
The idea is to make the team more compact in possession and force opponents deeper into their own half.
If Real Madrid’s midfield can build play much higher up the pitch, opponents will have to retreat. That would allow Mourinho’s side to improve their pressing, make it more effective and increase the volume of attacks.
As a result, Real Madrid should create considerably more opportunities to score.
A compact Real Madrid for 90 minutes
Mourinho wants his team to stay together and remain compact throughout the full 90 minutes, rather than doing so only in short periods.
Defensively, this would reduce the spaces available for opponents to build their attacks and could force them to play more directly, looking to exploit the space behind the defensive line.
That is an area where the pace and defensive ability of Marc Cucurella and Denzel Dumfries, alongside Aurelien Tchouameni, can provide protection.
The same compactness could also benefit Real Madrid in attack by keeping opponents pinned back. Mourinho wants to use the quality of his players to create a greater number of dangerous situations.
Mourinho’s idea is that Real Madrid’s most talented players must push the team forward and help them put opponents under pressure much closer to the box.
