"It's a scandal!" Real Madrid are furious with referee after Atletico defeat

Real Madrid, through their television channel RMTV, have denounced Madrid derby referee Alberola Rojas's performance, which they claim ended up conditioning the match as they lost 3-1 to Atletico.

According to the club, he made three big mistakes. These were a foul on Jude Bellingham in the action prior to the first goal of the match, a hard tackle by José María Giménez that was not punished with a red card offence and a handball by Mario Hermoso in his area that was not signalled. 

Alvaro Morata's opening goal provoked a first reaction from the channel: "It was a goal that should not have counted. The goal was not reviewed by VAR. There was a foul in front of goal in favour of Real Madrid."

"It's embarrassing that it wasn't whistled, even without the help of any VAR. That play had to be reviewed as the goal was preceded by a very clear foul. It is very clear. It has to be overturned because it is a decisive play. Cuadra Fernandez (on VAR) should have told Alberola that the play needed to be reviewed. That's how Atleti's first goal came, which conditioned the game.

"Alberola Rojas' refereeing was appalling. His lamentable performance was decisive and changed the match. Real Madrid should have gone in at half-time at 2-2 and Atlético de Madrid with a player less."

On Camavinga's disallowed goal: "Subsequently a non-existent offside on Rüdiger, who does not intervene in the play, led to a disallowed goal from Camavinga just before the break. Another clear error by Alberola that harms the same team."

And then came a clear reference to Barcelona. "When we knew who the referee was going to be, we knew what was going to happen. They are making the same gross mistakes again with Real Madrid. This referee, let's remember, is one of those who hires the services of Enríquez Negreira's son.

"Despite the fact that the judge has spoken of systemic corruption, these referees continue to work. He has no level to referee even regional matches. However, he continues to escalate mistake after mistake."

The foul on Bellingham was also criticised: "It is intolerable that such harshness is allowed on Bellingham. Alberola is another member of the Negreira League. That's the way it is. With these oxen, Real Madrid has to plough. It is a disgrace. Once again.

"And nobody is going to talk in the press about this, as happened with Felipe Monteiro's hand that ended up giving Atlético the league. It's a real disgrace. A scandal. There are three actions that completely conditioned the match. The match production did not want to rewind backwards to see the origin of the play. On the other hand, it did in an Athletic-Barcelona match in which Muniain touched the ball with his hand."

The string of complaints continued for a foul by José Maria Gimenez: "Atlético should have been reduced to 10 men. It's a wild tackle by Gimenez. A textbook red card, which, despite this, resulted in a yellow. Let's remember that the regulations punish not only the harshness, but also the intention of the action. 

"What does Giménez have to do to get sent off? If he hunts him down, he sends Rodrygo to hospital for the rest of the season. He's the last defender. All the factors invite a red card. It's for Giménez to be punished. It is regrettable and extremely serious that the VAR didn't come into play either.

"It's a championship red card. Giménez has to take out his revolver. I don't want to think what Roures' doormats would say if Rüdiger had tackled Griezmann. This is the Spanish football, vomitous, that Madrid has to put up with."