Carlo Ancelotti fumes as Atletico are awarded a controversial penalty in the Madrid derby – amid Real’s ‘outrage over refereeing standards’ in LaLiga
Carlo Ancelotti fumed at the penalty awarded to Atletico Madrid in their draw with Real at the Bernabeu on Saturday night.
The top of the table clash ended in a 1-1 stalemate after goals from Julian Alvarez and Kylian Mbappe either side of half-time but it was the Real boss left ruing his side’s profligacy and the decision by the officials that proved decisive in the result.
The home side were penalised in the 30th minute after a coming together between Aurelien Tchouameni and Samuel Lino in the area. The former had trodden on the Atletico player’s foot after both players had failed to make contact with a cross.
The incident was missed by Cesar Soto Grado, however, the official was told to review the clash on the pitchside monitor by VAR, at which point he awarded the visitors a penalty.
Post-match, Ancelotti insisted that he did not want to ‘get into a controversy’ but claimed football fans have been perplexed by such decisions in LaLiga this season.
‘I don’t want to talk (about the referee). The penalty has been awarded by VAR,’ said the Italian. ‘The referee was very close and saw it well. I saw another penalty in Athletic-Girona… The people of football do not understand this.
Carlo Ancelotti was unhappy with the decision to award Atletico Madrid a penalty against Real
Aurelien Tchouameni was penalised after stepping on Samuel Lino’s foot after both players had failed to make contact with a cross
Referee Cesar Soto Grado awarded the spot kick after being advised to review the incident by VAR
‘I don’t want to get into a controversy that is quite big. It was an even, competitive match. As I said, we came out of the game with a draw, but encouraged. The team was good in the second half.’
It comes after Madrid sent a formal letter of complaint to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) last week, with a copy also sent to Spain’s High Council for Sports.
The club complained about officiating in their 1-0 loss by Espanyol on Saturday, with the only goal scored by Carlos Romero.
Real Madrid believed Romero should have been sent off earlier in the match for a tackle on Kylian Mbappe, but the referee’s on pitch decision to show a yellow card was maintained by the VAR officials.
Following the match, Real Madrid TV shared a clip on social media of reactions to the incident, which was labelled as a ‘global scandal’.
‘The decision made by the referee and the VAR is inexplicable,’ Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti added post-match.
‘The most important thing is to protect the player and it was a clear foul, a really nasty tackle with a risk of injury. Fortunately, nothing happened, but there was a risk. The VAR is also there for this.
‘We think the decision not to show a red card is inexplicable.’
Real Madrid launched a complaint against Royal Spanish Football Federation last week (Pictured: Club president Florentino Perez)
Jude Bellingham directed an X-rated rant at a linesman during Real Madrid’s draw with Atletico
Real Madrid also complained about Vinicius Jr having a goal ruled out in the match.
A four-page letter by the club branded the performance of officials as ‘scandalous’.
The club added the match was the ‘culmination of a completely discredited refereeing system whose decisions against Real Madrid have reached a point that the adulteration and manipulation of the competition cannot be ignored.’
Real Madrid were absent from a meeting held by the RFEF, which featured representatives of men’s professional clubs and the refereeing committee.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas has claimed the league are considering legal action against Real Madrid following the letter.
In a fierce Madrid derby, Jude Bellingham was also heard directing a foul-mouthed tirade at a linesman. The midfielder was dumbfounded by an early decision from the assistant referee and vented his frustration next to one of the pitchside microphones at the Bernabeu.
‘F*** you, man!’ he was heard shouting. ‘F*** off!’
Despite his show of dissent, Bellingham escaped a booking but it remains to be seen whether LaLiga decide to launch an retrospective investigation.
Madid remain one point clear of their city rivals following the draw, while Barcelona have the chance to close the gap to Atletico in second to just two points on Sunday night.
