Jude Bellingham Challenges Referee After Contentious Real Madrid Derby Loss

Jude Bellingham Confronts Referee Following Disputed Derby Defeat

After Real Madrid's 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano, Jude Bellingham openly expressed his frustration toward referee Ortiz Arias at the final whistle. The midfielder found himself embroiled in one of the derby’s most debated moments during the first half.

Controversial Incident Between Bellingham and Romero

In the 35th minute, with the score level, Bellingham and Atletico defender Cristian Romero contested a 50/50 ball. Romero caught Bellingham with his studs near the knee, sparking the initial decision by Ortiz Arias to book Bellingham. However, after VAR intervention, the referee was summoned to review the incident on the monitor.

The VAR review revealed that Romero was the one who fouled, leading Ortiz Arias to reverse Bellingham’s yellow card and instead caution Romero. Real Madrid, though, believed that the challenge warranted a straight red card for the Atletico player, especially since the referee had a chance to watch the replay firsthand.

Another Missed Call Adds to Real Madrid’s Frustration

Just nine minutes later, Kang-in Lee tackled Federico Valverde with his studs around Valverde’s left ankle. Although Ortiz Arias was close to this incident, no card was issued, and VAR did not prompt a review. This added to Real Madrid’s growing discontent over the refereeing.

Further Drama and Post-Match Reaction

The tension escalated when Huijsen was sent off following a VAR check for a foul on Giuliano Simeone. Real Madrid’s players were left annoyed by what they considered inconsistent decisions that allowed Atletico to stay at full strength for much of the first half.

At full-time, Bellingham made his feelings unmistakably clear by shouting directly at the referee: "Two red cards! Two!" This outburst summed up his view on the two key first-half challenges where he felt Atletico escaped harsher punishment.

The debate surrounding the match now extends beyond performances to the officiating choices that influenced the flow of the derby. Bellingham’s reaction perfectly captured the mood within the Real Madrid squad as the controversy lingered long after the final whistle.