Real Madrid Loses Madrid Derby After Referee Committee Backs Mourinho
Listen to the story
Real Madrid faced local rivals Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby, one of the biggest matches in Spanish football.
During the match, a Real Madrid player was sent off, leaving the team with only ten players for the rest of the game.
Playing with ten men, Real Madrid ended up losing the match to Atletico Madrid.
After the game, there was strong debate about the referee's decisions. Some felt Real Madrid was treated unfairly by the officials.
Spain's referee committee, the body that reviews decisions made during matches, later gave its support to coach Jose Mourinho's complaints.
This support came despite Mourinho making sharp and critical statements about the referee after the match.
However, some observers argue that Real Madrid is using the debate about the referee to avoid discussing a bigger issue.
According to this view, the club has a deeper, unresolved problem that goes beyond one match or one refereeing decision.
The loss adds to a difficult period for Real Madrid, and questions remain about the team's overall form this season.
Vocabulary10 words
- derby
- a match between two teams from the same city
- sent off
- made to leave the game because of a serious foul
- unfairly
- in a way that is not right or fair
- referee committee
- a group that checks and judges referee decisions
- statements
- things a person says publicly
- controversy
- public disagreement about something
- resolved
- solved; ended in a good way
- form
- how well a team is playing recently
- officials
- people, like referees, who control a sports event
- rivals
- teams or people who compete strongly against each other
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A player was sent off and they lost 2. It supported Mourinho despite his sharp criticism 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Real Madrid faced local rivals Atletico Madrid in the Madrid _____, one of the biggest matches in Spanish football.
During the match, a Real Madrid player was _____ off, leaving the team with only ten players.
Playing with ten men, Real Madrid ended up _____ the match to Atletico Madrid.
After the game, there was strong debate about the referee's _____.
Spain's referee _____, the body that reviews match decisions, later gave its support to coach Jose Mourinho.
This support came despite Mourinho making sharp _____ about the referee after the match.
However, some observers argue that Real Madrid is using the debate to avoid a bigger _____.
According to this view, the club has a deeper, _____ problem beyond one match.
Discussion questions
- Do you think referee decisions have a big effect on football results? Why or why not?
- Why might a club focus on referee controversy instead of team problems?
- How important is it for referee committees to be independent and fair?
- What do you think 'a wound that has not healed' might mean for a football club's season?
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