Barcelona chief Laporta warns Real Madrid boss Mourinho not to overstep the mark in criticism of referees

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has warned Jose Mourinho not to overstep the mark following his criticism of referees after Real Madrid’s controversial defeat at Real Betis on Friday night.

Mourinho lashed out at match official Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez and VAR Javier Iglesias Villanueva after they dismissed Madrid’s claims that Kylian Mbappe’s late penalty should have been retaken due to encroachment by home defender Marc Bartra.

Although the officials were later proved to be correct, that did not stop Mourinho launching a tirade that implied Madrid were victimised and that other clubs – most notably Barcelona – were given preferential treatment.

Laporta, speaking before the traditional directors’ lunch that preceded tonight’s Champions League clash with Feyenoord, was asked about Mourinho’s complaints and said: “What has us very excited is Barça. What the other teams do [is up to them], as long as they do not cross the line of respect and institutional harmony that must be maintained. 

“Other teams do what they deem appropriate. We respect it as long as there is obviously no transgression of what is normal in relations between clubs.”

La Liga 2026

Spain

#	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Last 5
1	Barcelona	4	4	0	0	17	2	15	12	W W W W
2	Alaves	4	3	1	0	10	3	7	10	W W D W
3	Real Madrid	4	3	0	1	10	3	7	9	L W W W
4	Real Betis	4	3	0	1	5	5	0	9	W L W W
5	Deportivo La Coruna	4	2	2	0	8	5	3	8	W W D D
6	Sevilla	4	2	1	1	7	6	1	7	D L W W
7	Atletico Madrid	4	2	1	1	7	6	1	7	L W D W
8	Osasuna	4	2	1	1	5	6	-1	7	L W W D
9	Real Sociedad	5	2	1	2	6	8	-2	7	W D W L L
10	Athletic Club	4	2	0	2	6	5	1	6	W W L L
11	Levante	4	1	2	1	5	5	0	5	D W D L
12	Espanyol	4	1	1	2	6	5	1	4	D L L W
13	Racing Santander	4	1	1	2	7	8	-1	4	L W L D
14	Rayo Vallecano	4	1	1	2	7	10	-3	4	W L D L
15	Getafe	4	1	1	2	2	5	-3	4	D L W L
16	Celta Vigo	5	0	3	2	2	5	-3	3	D D L L D
17	Villarreal	4	0	2	2	6	8	-2	2	L L D D
18	Malaga	4	0	2	2	1	7	-6	2	D L D L
19	Elche	4	0	1	3	5	12	-7	1	L L L D
20	Valencia	4	0	1	3	1	9	-8	1	L L L D

• Position 1, 2, 3, 4 : Champions League league stage
• Position 5 : Europa League league stage
• Position 6 : ECL Playoffs
• Position 18, 19, 20 : Relegation

Barcelona target Champions League – Laporta

Barca have had the upper hand over Madrid in recent years, winning the last two La Liga crowns while Madrid have had back-to-back trophyless seasons.

Laporta said there would be no easing up and admitted the Champions League – a trophy they have not won since 2015 – was a priority.

He added: “Our goal is to win our third league trophy in a row, which would be extraordinary. We aim to continue being the king of cups, which would also be very good. We aim to win the Super Cup in the middle of the season. And, of course, this year we want to win the Champions League. If you say the big goal, yes, I would say yes [it is the Champions League].”

Barcelona star Yamal is ‘spectacular’, says Laporta

It has been a good week for Barca with three players named on the 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, including new signing Rodri.

Pau Cubarsi is an outsider but Lamine Yamal is among the leading candidates to claim the prize after a stellar year for the Blaugrana and Spain.

“Barça is a unique club and proof of this is in these nominations. We are very proud,” Laporta said. The players we have must be grateful to Barcelona Football Club for what it gives them. I will be immensely happy if a Barça player wins.”

On Yamal, he added: “He’s spectacular. He has an exceptional quality, he is a genius and I think his nomination for the Ballon d’Or is more than deserved. He has a maturity for his age, [that’s] fantastic. I feel bad when you talk about the nominations that neither Pedri nor Raphinha are nominated. I think they have also made a case; for their quality they deserved to be nominated.”