All-out war in Madrid! Atlético hit back hard at Mourinho's attacks
Passions after the Madrid derby spilled over into a bitter war between the clubs beyond the football pitch.
Details: Atlético Madrid issued a strongly worded public statement aimed at Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho and the Spanish giants, calling for an immediate end to the media campaign against the refereeing team. The dispute escalated following the fierce reaction from the Portuguese coach of Los Blancos to referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias's performance in the Madrid derby. Los Rojiblancos accompanied their position with a categorical demand to stop the harassment of referees under the hashtag #StopAcosoArbitralYA.
Atlético believe that constant attacks on the refereeing corps through the club's media channels, along with the coach's emotional tirades at post-match press conferences, amount to a blatant attempt to manipulate and pressure officials. After the 2-1 defeat, Mourinho appeared before journalists with a detailed list of refereeing grievances, claiming that the opposition should have finished the match with nine men and openly congratulating the refereeing committee in a sarcastic tone.
It is worth noting that the victory over Real Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium earned Diego Simeone's side three points and handed their fierce rivals their second defeat of the current La Liga season.
Reminder: Payback for the refereeing scandal! Madrid derby official handed severe punishment
Kenley Ward
Dailysports's expert