La Liga President Responds to Real's Attack: Huijsen's Red Was Certain, They Didn't Lose Because of Refereeing

La Liga president Javier Tebas has waded into the refereeing controversy that followed the Madrid derby between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, which ended in a 2-1 win for Atletico amid a scathing attack on the referee's performance from Real Madrid's official channel.

Tebas' stance on the complaints

Tebas said he understood Real Madrid's objections to certain decisions, but stated he did not accept the manner in which the club expressed its anger at all. He made clear that Real Madrid did not lose the match because of those controversial refereeing moments.

Breaking down the controversial incidents

The La Liga president detailed his view on the main incidents that angered Real Madrid, calling Dean Huijsen's red card a certain decision beyond dispute. On Cristian Romero's challenge on Jude Bellingham, he felt a red card could have been given, but that the speed of the play made it open to interpretation either way. Similarly, he described Lee Kang-in's challenge on Fede Valverde as a fast-paced play open to interpretation, without any clear error.

A sharp criticism of Real Madrid TV

Tebas closed by sharply criticizing the way Real Madrid's channel treats match officials, recalling that the league had already filed a formal complaint over its conduct, stressing the need to uphold professional ethics, and describing the approach as an unfair and harsh way of pressuring referees.