Overview
- The Madrid derby finished 2-1 to Atlético Madrid on Sunday, September 20, 2026, with Alejandro Grimaldo converting a penalty after Dean Huijsen was upgraded to a red card and Jonathan David adding a second before Antonio Rüdiger pulled one back late.
- The referees’ committee published VAR audio that shows one review corrected a mistaken‑identity booking for Cristian Romero and another led officials to change Huijsen’s yellow to a red while upholding the penalty.
- The audio release did not include any discussion of Kang‑in Lee’s studs‑up challenge on Federico Valverde, and the committee has since admitted the incident should have been reviewed.
- José Mourinho held up printed screenshots at his post‑match press conference to argue two Atletico incidents deserved red cards, prompting Real to restrict player media access and triggering a viral Atletico social media rebuttal using the hashtag #StopAcosoArbitralYA.
- The episode has sharpened debate over referee appointments, the limits of VAR oversight, and how clubs use public channels to pressure officials, and it leaves LaLiga and the CTA under pressure to set clearer protocols and sanctions going forward.