Jude Bellingham and Cuti Romero got into a verbal spat during the Madrid derby on Sunday. Real Madrid lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid. The argument happened in the first half after the two players clashed. Bellingham received a yellow card for the challenge.
According to reports, Bellingham accused Romero of being a coward. He made a reference to Lionel Messi. He said, “With Messi you talk a lot, and here nothing, absolutely nothing. You’re a coward.” Romero did not back down. He replied, “Cry, cry outside there. You are a crybaby.”
The match was heated throughout. The first half ended goalless. In the second half, Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen was sent off for a foul inside the box. Atletico were awarded a penalty. Alejandro Grimaldo scored to put Atletico ahead. Jonathan David then doubled the lead. Antonio Rudiger pulled one back for Real Madrid in the 89th minute. But Atletico held on to win 2-1.
After the loss, Real Madrid dropped to fourth in La Liga. They are six points behind leaders Barcelona after seven games. Atletico are second.
Separately, Romero has said that Messi should win the Ballon d’Or every year. He called Messi the greatest and said there is no one like him. Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists at the 2026 World Cup. Argentina lost the final to Spain 1-0. Messi announced his international retirement last month. He still plays for Inter Miami.
Real Madrid Furious With Referee After Derby Defeat to Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid have released a furious statement after their 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Sunday. The club blamed referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias for the loss. In a statement titled “A dreadful refereeing performance decides the derby,” Real Madrid said two Atletico players should have been sent off. They believe those decisions changed the game.
The first incident involved Atletico defender Cristian Romero and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham. Romero caught Bellingham on the knee with his studs as the two challenged for the ball. The referee first booked Bellingham. He was then asked to check the pitchside monitor. After watching the replay, he took the yellow card away from Bellingham and gave it to Romero instead. Real Madrid feel Romero was lucky to avoid a red card. Bellingham was clearly in pain but was able to continue playing.
The second incident came nine minutes later. Federico Valverde went down after Atletico’s Kang-In Lee stepped on his ankle. The referee did not give Lee a yellow or a red card. Real Madrid argued that Ortiz Arias was close to the play but still failed to punish Lee. The club also said the VAR official, Trujillo Suarez, did not alert the referee this time. Real Madrid believe both decisions shaped the match, which Atletico went on to win in the second half.
Manager Jose Mourinho also made his feelings clear. In his press conference, he held up a picture showing the point of contact between Lee’s foot and Valverde’s ankle. He criticised the referee’s performance. The club then followed with its own statement, which was even stronger in tone.
Atletico Madrid responded on Monday. Coach Diego Simeone said people must respect referees. He said coaches like himself, Mourinho, Hansi Flick, and Manuel Pellegrini are in privileged positions with huge exposure. He warned that crossing the line of respect is unacceptable, no matter who you are. Atletico also posted a message on social media calling for an end to the harassment of referees.
The match itself was heated. There were three yellow cards in the first half alone. Atletico’s Marc Pubill and Simeone were both booked early. Real Madrid then went down to ten men at the start of the second half. Defender Dean Huijsen was sent off for a foul in the box. Atletico were awarded a penalty, and Alejandro Grimaldo scored from 12 yards to make it 1-0. Jonathan David soon doubled the lead for Atletico. Antonio Rudiger pulled one back for Real Madrid, but they could not find an equaliser. Atletico won 2-1.
The result moved Atletico a point ahead of Real in La Liga. Real Madrid, with Mourinho back for a second spell, had won their previous three matches in all competitions. But they are now fourth in the table and six points behind early leaders Barcelona. Atletico, meanwhile, came into the derby after two strong league wins, both with clean sheets.
FAQs
Q. What was the result of the Madrid derby?
A. Atletico Madrid beat Real Madrid 2-1.
Q. What happened between Jude Bellingham and Cuti Romero?
A. They exchanged words after a first-half clash.
Q. Who scored Atletico Madrid’s goals?
A. Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David scored.
Q. Who scored Real Madrid’s goal?
A. Antonio Rudiger scored in the 89th minute.
Q. Where did Real Madrid drop after the defeat?
A. They dropped to fourth in La Liga.
Get the Latest Cricket Updates at IceCric.News. Also, Follow Our Social Media for live updates on Facebook and Instagram.

