Jude Bellingham Confronts Referee After Disputed Real Madrid Derby Loss
Jude Bellingham expressed clear frustration towards referee Ortiz Arias right after Real Madrid's narrow 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano. The midfielder found himself in the eye of the storm during one of the match's most debated moments when Cristian Romero caught him with his studs in a first-half challenge.
Initially, Ortiz Arias booked Bellingham for the incident, but after a VAR intervention, the referee was called to review the play on the monitor. This review led to another heated discussion. Instead of confirming Bellingham's yellow card, the referee rescinded it and booked Romero, leaving many at Real Madrid convinced that the Atletico defender should have faced a red card.
Bellingham’s Reaction to the Decision
The main flashpoint happened in the 35th minute while the score was still 0-0. Bellingham reached the ball first during a contested challenge, but Romero caught him with his studs near the knee. Ortiz Arias initially punished Bellingham with a yellow card. VAR official Trujillo Suarez then flagged a potential mistaken identity, prompting the referee to watch the replay.
Upon review, it was clear Romero committed the foul. The referee withdrew Bellingham’s card and instead booked Romero. This decision upset Real Madrid, who felt the foul deserved a sending off, especially since the referee had the chance to view the incident personally.
Further Frustration from Another Challenge
The irritation didn’t stop there. Just nine minutes later, Kang-in Lee caught Federico Valverde with his studs around the left ankle. Ortiz Arias was close by but chose not to issue any card. More notably, VAR did not suggest a review this time, adding to Real Madrid's disappointment.
These two incidents became focal points of the derby’s tension, especially after Huijsen was later sent off following a VAR decision for a foul on Giuliano Simeone. Ultimately, Real Madrid lost 2-1, with players unhappy about what they perceived as inconsistent refereeing.
Bellingham’s Message at Full-Time
“Two red cards! Two!”
This short outburst from Bellingham at the final whistle summed up his feelings about the first-half fouls and decisions. His reaction reflected the mood inside the Madrid squad, as debate over the match lingered beyond the final whistle, focusing on both their performance and the referee’s calls that let Atletico Madrid stay at full strength early on.
