Atlético Madrid angered by refereeing against Barcelona despite accepting defeat was fair

Mundo Deportivo reported frustration among Atlético Madrid players with referee Javier Alberola Rojas’s performance in their 2-1 defeat to Barcelona on Sunday in the twelfth round of the Spanish league. Atlético dropped to third, five points behind leaders Barcelona and two behind second-placed Real Madrid.

According to the newspaper, the referee showed Barcelona players only one yellow card, did not book Raphinha after his challenge on Koke, and did not deal firmly with the team’s protests. Atlético players, by contrast, received three yellow cards, despite both teams committing 14 fouls each.

The report added that Atlético players were also angered by the match ending six seconds before the allotted time was up, as defender Marc Pubill was preparing to send a cross into the penalty area. Morten Hjulmand protested the referee’s decision and received a yellow card. Despite their dissatisfaction with the refereeing, coach Diego Simeone admitted the result was fair, and the team did not use the officiating as an excuse for the defeat.