Simeone Calls for Respect for Referees After Derby Win

Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone has asked Real Madrid coach José Mourinho to respect referees. He said even big names in football need to be careful with what they say about match officials.

Simeone was reacting to Mourinho's comments about refereeing decisions after Madrid lost to Atlético Madrid 2-1 on Sunday.

He emphasized that no one, regardless of their reputation, is above the standards expected of managers.

In a post on X on Sunday, football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported that Simeone said, "You cannot lose the referees’ respect. No matter how much of a big name you are, like Mourinho is… we need to be respectful."

Limits on Comments

Simeone also warned that managers should be careful when talking about officials in public.

"You should never cross the line," he said. "Regardless of who you are; Mourinho, Flick, Pellegrini, me, or anyone else, we need to be careful about what we say."

He added that refereeing decisions are part of football. Teams will face both good and bad calls during the season.

"Sometimes things go your way and sometimes they don’t," he said.

Match Assessment

Looking at the match itself, Simeone gave a clear view of the game. He pointed out how each team performed in critical moments.

"The match was clear: there was one team that controlled it, one team that knew how to take advantage of the important moments in the game," Simeone said. "And another team that didn’t create the goalscoring chances they normally do."