Jose Mourinho Avoids Disciplinary Action After Derby Comments
Jose Mourinho has swerved a potentially damaging suspension after Spain’s refereeing authorities decided not to file a disciplinary complaint over his explosive comments following Real Madrid’s derby defeat to Atletico.
The Real Madrid coach had publicly taken aim at referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias and VAR official Daniel Trujillo Suarez after the loss, putting himself on a collision course with the country’s officiating establishment. For several days, the prospect of a formal case – and a heavy punishment – hovered over Valdebebas.
It will not go any further.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the refereeing union AESAF and the legal department of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) have opted against taking the matter to the Spanish federation’s Disciplinary Committee. After reviewing Mourinho’s remarks, both bodies decided not to press ahead with a complaint at this stage.
That decision instantly lifts the threat of a touchline ban or financial penalty. Mourinho, for now, walks away unscathed.
Mourinho’s fury under the microscope
The controversy stemmed from Mourinho’s post-match debrief after the derby defeat, when he launched a full-blooded critique of the officiating team. He zeroed in on Ortiz Arias, stressing the 41-year-old’s lack of international status and questioning whether he had the experience to handle a game of such magnitude.
He did not stop there. Mourinho also dragged VAR official Daniel Trujillo Suarez into the argument, linking his performance in the derby to previous Real Madrid incidents from last season. The comments lit up debate across Spain and forced AESAF and the CTA’s legal arm to study whether they crossed the line into punishable territory.
Had they chosen to proceed, the case would have gone before the federation’s Disciplinary Committee, opening the door to a formal investigation into the Real Madrid boss and a possible suspension.
Four-match ban avoided
Monday’s deliberations closed that door. The complaint has been dismissed, meaning no process will be opened and Mourinho remains free to patrol the technical area without restriction.
The stakes were not trivial. A guilty verdict could have brought a suspension of up to four matches and a fine ranging from €601 to €3,005.06. For a coach already under scrutiny after a painful derby defeat, losing four games from the touchline would have been a serious blow to Real Madrid’s short-term stability.
Instead, the club receives a reprieve. Mourinho’s name will not appear on any disciplinary docket, and the noise shifts away from committee rooms and back towards the training ground.
His words about Ortiz Arias and Trujillo Suarez will continue to divide opinion, but the refereeing authorities have made their call: no escalation, no case, no ban.
Now it is Mourinho’s turn to answer in the only arena that matters to him – the pitch.
