Mourinho Sparks Explosive Ref Bias Claims in La Liga

Real Madrid’s head coach José Mourinho has taken another swipe at officiating in La Liga. The Portuguese coach questioned how referees are assigned to Real Madrid matches and hinted at bias against his team.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of their Champions League clash with Roma, Mourinho expressed confusion over why referee names are revealed far earlier than the 24-hour window stipulated by the rules.

I trust all referees. I only start doubting when the rule says the ref should be appointed 24 hours before the game, yet everyone knows who will officiate three weeks in advance. That’s very strange.

— José Mourinho

When asked if Real Madrid players face more challenges winning duels in the Spanish league compared to European competitions because of different referee standards, Mourinho kept his answer short but pointed.

When you ask me that question, you already know the answer. You just don’t want to say it. Everyone knows.

— José Mourinho

The coach also revisited controversial decisions from their 1-0 win over Villarreal, where Vinicius Junior was shown a straight red card.

I don’t want to talk about referees. I’ll just say one thing so you stop asking me about this. I urge you to watch the first minute of the game against Villarreal.

— José Mourinho

That’s enough if you know what you’re talking about. We’ll talk more on Saturday.

— José Mourinho