Watch: Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham confronts referee after controversial derby defeat

Watch: Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham confronts referee after controversial derby defeat Jude Bellingham made his frustration clear to Ortiz Arias at the final whistle after Real Madrid’s controversial 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano. The midfielder was at the centre of one of the derby’s most disputed incidents when Cristian Romero caught him with his studs during a challenge in the first half.  Ortiz Arias initially booked Bellingham before VAR intervened and sent him to the monitor . Yet the review produced another talking point. The referee overturned Bellingham’s yellow card and booked Romero instead, leaving Real Madrid convinced the Atletico defender should have been sent off. Bellingham’s reaction at full-time showed just how strongly he felt about the officiating. Bellingham furious over Romero decision The first major flashpoint came in the 35th minute with the score still level. Bellingham reached the ball before Romero during a 50/50 challenge, only for the Atletico defender to catch the Real Madrid midfielder with his studs around the knee. Ortiz Arias initially punished Bellingham and showed him a yellow card. VAR official Trujillo Suarez then called the referee to the monitor after identifying the incident as a potential case of mistaken identity. The review established that Romero had committed the foul. Ortiz Arias therefore cancelled Bellingham’s booking and showed the Atletico player a yellow card. That was not the outcome Real Madrid wanted, as the club believed the nature of the challenge warranted a dismissal, particularly after the referee had been given the opportunity to examine the incident himself. Kang-in Lee challenge adds to Real Madrid frustration The controversy did not end there. Nine minutes after the Romero incident, Kang-in Lee caught Federico Valverde with his studs around the left ankle. This time Ortiz Arias was close to the action but did not produce a card. More significantly for Real Madrid, VAR did not recommend another review. Bellingham was not happy with the refereeing decisions. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images) The two incidents became central to the feeling around the derby, particularly after Huijsen was later sent off following a VAR intervention for his foul on Giuliano Simeone. Real Madrid ultimately lost 2-1, leaving the players frustrated by what they saw as inconsistent disciplinary decisions. Bellingham’s final whistle message Bellingham did not need a lengthy statement to make his position clear. At the end of the match, the England international directed his frustration towards Ortiz Arias, shouting: “Two red cards! Two!” which summed up the midfielder’s view of the two first-half challenges. For now, the debate over the derby will centre not only on their performance but also on the decisions that allowed Atletico to remain at full strength during the first half. Bellingham’s reaction captured the mood inside the Madrid camp as the controversy continued beyond the final whistle.