'They think we are all stupid' - Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone fumes at VAR failings in La Liga after Real Madrid controversy and claims referees have been 'paralysed'

Los Blancos' contest with Almeria last weekend spurred controversy around the Spanish footballing world, after a series of contested VAR decisions handed Real a 3-2 win. Xavi, Carlo Ancelotti and others have all offered their opinion on the controversy, and Simeone is the latest to weigh in.

Simeone had some choice words for Spanish officiating, saying: "The referees go through a moment of pressure, the VAR improves them, but exposes them too. Then we can discuss whether the audios are good: the issue is not whether they leak them, but what happens in them. They think we are all stupid, and that makes us angry."

Simeone has had his fair share of issues with referees over the years, most recently attacking officials in the press after Angel Correa was sent off in the Madrid derby in February 2023. After that contest, he claimed that it's "normal" for referees to favour Los Blancos.

The manager will oversee Los Rojiblancos as they take on struggling Sevilla in Copa del Rey last eight on Thursday. They will hope to make another run in a cup competition they haven't won since 2013.