Mourinho challenges press over silence on Barcelona and Atlético penalty calls

José Mourinho took aim at the assembled media on Monday, questioning why reporters had failed to ask about two disputed penalty decisions awarded to Barcelona and Atlético Madrid over the weekend, as he wrapped up his Real Madrid press conference ahead of the trip to Elche.

Rather than wait to be prompted, Mourinho raised the subject himself as he left the room. “¿Ninguna pregunta sobre los penaltis? Extraño, ¿no?” he said — roughly, no questions about the penalties, strange, isn’t it — adopting a pointedly ironic tone before ending the session without elaborating further.

The two decisions he referenced both came from the weekend’s La Liga fixtures. Barcelona were awarded a penalty during their win over Levante following a foul on Lamine Yamal, a call that helped seal the result for the Blaugrana. Atlético Madrid, meanwhile, received a penalty for handball in the area during their victory over Real Sociedad, a decision that drew scrutiny in post-match analysis.

According to the primary account of the press conference, neither incident had been raised by journalists before Mourinho brought them up himself. Both are described as contentious in the reporting that followed the two results.

The brief aside left little doubt about Mourinho’s view of how the two decisions had been covered relative to refereeing controversies involving his own side this season. He did not expand on the point before departing.

Mourinho’s substantive pre-match remarks focused on Real Madrid’s preparations for Elche, including fitness updates and praise for Arda Güler’s recent form, but it was the parting penalty comment that dominated the subsequent coverage of his media duties.