Atletico Madrid CEO slams Real and Barcelona over referee complaints

Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin criticised Real Madrid and Barcelona for publicly lamenting refereeing decisions, calling the behaviour ‘quite embarrassing’ and questioning why the two clubs, who benefit most from officiating, continue to complain, speaking in an interview with the club’s official media. Gil Marin argued that Atleti have become the clear third force in Spanish football’s La Liga while still chasing the country’s traditional giants. “They force us to be better,” he said, acknowledging the financial and sporting gap between Atletico and Real Madrid and Barcelona. “The truth is, that forces us to be better, it forces us to compete differently, it forces us to constantly strive harder,” he added. He said the challenge pushes the club to improve on and off the pitch.

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Gil Marin noted that Real Madrid and Barcelona have gradually separated themselves from the rest of La Liga, now sitting much closer to the traditional powerhouses than to other clubs. “A while ago there was Real Madrid and Barcelona, then there was a group of 7, 8, or 9 clubs,” he observed, adding that Atletico now finds itself “in no man’s land, closer to the two giants than to the others.” He described the continued public complaints from the two clubs as “shameful,” calling it “quite embarrassing” that they are the main beneficiaries of officiating decisions. Gil Marin said the clubs use media pressure and their tools to influence narratives around refereeing. The Atletico executive made clear that the club will not stay silent, stating, “We have made it clear that we will not remain silent, that we will continue to protest, whether ironic or serious.” He affirmed that Atletico will keep raising the issue whenever it arises. The remarks come amid Real Madrid and Barcelona’s ongoing war over the Negreira case, adding another chapter to the growing tension between Atletico and Spain’s two biggest clubs. Gil Marin’s outspoken stance underscores the club’s willingness to challenge the influence of the giants in Spanish football.