Carlo Ancelotti said an “unprecedented” refereeing decision saw what would have been a last-second winner. Judas Bellingham ruled out in Real Madrid's 2-2 draw in Valencia on Saturday.
Valencia won 2-0 in the half hour played at Mestalla with goals from Hugo Duro and Roman Yaremchukbefore a double Vinícius Junior (scoring in the stadium where he was subjected to racial insults from fans last season) brought Madrid level.
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Bellingham thought he had taken the three points when he headed a cross from Brahim Díaz into the net in the ninth minute of added time, but referee Jesús Gil Manzano had opted to blow the final whistle with the ball in the air.
The England midfielder was sent off for questioning the decision, with the referee's report stating that he had shown an “aggressive attitude” and had repeatedly shouted “it's a bloody goal”.
“There's not much to say. Something unprecedented happened,” Ancelotti said in his post-match press conference. “We had possession. The game should stop when Valencia has the ball. It is unprecedented. It has never happened to me.
“We were upset with Bellingham's red card. He didn't say any insults. He said in English 'it's a bloody goal', but he was just saying what we were all thinking… [The referee] allowed the game to continue. I think he made a mistake.”
“[Bellingham] “He was clear in what he said,” Ancelotti added. “He was quite vehement [in his reaction] but that's normal, after what happened. “It wasn't an insult at all.”
The draw leaves Real Madrid seven points clear at the top of the LaLiga table, with their closest rivals Girona and Barcelona both in action on Sunday.
“We will look at the table and sleep well,” Ancelotti said.
Vinícius' two goals came after he was sent off in Madrid's defeat in the same match in May 2023, in a match in which the Brazil international was also subjected to racist insults from a group of fans among the crew.
Three people have been accused of racially insulting the player, who gave evidence in the case via video link last October.
“It was a very difficult match,” Vinícius told Real Madrid TV on Saturday. “Playing away from home is always difficult. After conceding two goals we managed to tie. In the end we couldn't [win] because they didn't let us.”
