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Arbeloa criticises refereeing decisions in Real Madrid’s Champions League elimination
16th April, 2026 07:19 AM
Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has criticised the refereeing decisions following Real Madrid’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, April 15, 2026, describing the turning point of their clash against Bayern Munich in Germany as both baffling and unjust.
Camavinga sent off
Speaking after the heated clash at the Allianz Arena that ended 4-3 in favour of Bayern, Arbeloa did not hide his frustration over the dismissal of Eduardo Camavinga, which he believes ultimately decided the fate of the tie.
“It’s an action that no one understands – how you can send a player off for something like that in a match of this nature. It’s clear that the tie ended at that moment, and it is something totally inexplicable and unfair. We are very hurt because the tie slipped away from us in a way that we couldn’t control, and I feel very sorry for my players and the effort they have made,” Arbeloa said.
Despite the disappointment, Arbeloa praised his players for their resilience and character, noting that his tactical approach was designed to challenge Bayern on their own turf.
“I think I put out the best team to win. We had to come here to win; I couldn’t come to speculate; I wanted to score goals. I knew Bayern, with the way they play, also needed to worry about defending against us. I wanted to field players capable of overcoming their aggressive and man-marking pressure. I would do it again, and I would pick this team again.
“Each and every one of them gave a great effort. They showed a lot of character in this stadium against a great team. The reality is that in the second half, we knew we had to hold on, and those chances, well, it’s unfortunate we couldn’t convert them, because in football, what matters most is being decisive and clear when you’re near the goalkeeper,” he said.
Arbeloa also extended congratulations to Bayern Munich, while reiterating that the manner of defeat left a bitter taste.
“They are very hurt, especially because of the way it happened. From here, I also want to congratulate Bayern Munich on the great tie they played. But we would have liked them to beat us in a different way than how it happened, with an inexplicable sending-off that no one understands. z
“And I think that’s why there is this sense of injustice, anger, and pain my players feel, seeing how their work, effort, and sacrifice on the field were undone by an action like the one the referee made.”
The former defender further questioned the referee’s handling of the situation, suggesting there was confusion around the second yellow card issued to Camavinga.
“I think he issued the card precisely because of that, because Bayern players had to go and tell him it was the second yellow. I think referees often either don’t play football or don’t understand how to handle this type of situation.
“But beyond not knowing, I think it’s even worse not knowing that a player who had already received a card not long ago, because Camavinga came on in the second half, is being penalised. I think it’s a double mistake.”
Future at Madrid
On his future, Arbeloa remained composed, insisting his focus has always been on serving the club rather than personal validation.
“Since I’ve been in this seat, it hasn’t been to prove my level as a coach. I’ve never wanted to win matches through my decisions but by helping the players on the pitch.
“We’ve faced many teams: Bayern under Kompany, City under Guardiola, Atlético under Simeone… I think most teams in Europe bear the stamp of their coaches, and I don’t know how much of a stamp this team of mine has or what percentage.
“Surely a much smaller percentage than the examples I mentioned or the one Castilla might have had under me. As I said, I’ve always tried to help the club in the way I could, and that’s how it will be until the last day.”
With their Champions League hopes dashed, Real Madrid must now regroup and shift focus to their remaining fixtures, as the fallout from a dramatic and controversial night in Munich continues to dominate discussion.
