Benfica coach José Mourinho has voiced strong criticism against the officiating in Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League Round of 16 playoff match, where Real Madrid secured a victory over the Portuguese side.
The highly decorated European manager, who has previously coached Real Madrid, alleged that referee François Letexier deliberately refrained from showing yellow cards to Real Madrid players. Mourinho stated that his subsequent red card and dismissal from the touchline were a direct result of him confronting the official about this perceived bias.
“Looking at Real’s defenders, many were already on a yellow card. If they had received another, they would certainly have been suspended for the second leg. The referee was clearly aware of this,” Mourinho remarked. “I approached him and said that I have managed over 1,400 matches and I understand how referees operate. I told him he was withholding cards for that very reason. It was after this direct confrontation that he showed me the red card. It seems whenever I speak the blunt truth, I am the one penalized.”
Mourinho further emphasized that it is a significant issue when referees allow prior knowledge of players’ disciplinary status—such as potential suspensions—to influence their on-field decision-making.
“This undermines the fairness of the sport. It is evident to us that the referee’s decisions were influenced by his awareness of the players’ situations. This is an injustice,” Mourinho added. He also referenced the 10-minute suspension of the match due to racial abuse directed at Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior, noting that misconduct in football extends beyond just verbal insults on the pitch.
Due to the red card received during this fixture, Mourinho will be prohibited from the touchline when the two teams meet for the return leg at Real Madrid’s home stadium.
