Following the red-and-white team's 1-0 defeat in the second leg against Arsenal, the mayor stated that UEFA "pulled out all the stops" to prevent the Madrid team from reaching the May 30 final. These remarks were made during a press conference at the Palacio de Cibeles.
“"When the draw was announced, I thought the opponent was Arsenal. But the Madrid club had to play against UEFA."
Among the criticisms, the appointment of German referee Daniel Siebert was highlighted, deemed "incomprehensible" in a context where Spain and Germany were competing for an additional spot in the Champions League. The mayor pointed out that refereeing decisions seemed to stem from a "predetermined" intent to disadvantage Atlético.
Actions such as an offside call before a potential foul inside the box on an Atlético player were mentioned, as well as a "blatant" possible penalty on another team player, where the referee indicated a prior foul that, according to the mayor, "did not exist." The added time was also questioned, suggesting the referee wanted to end the match "as soon as possible" to confirm Arsenal's qualification.
Finally, the mayor defended the pride of Atlético fans, emphasizing that the team competed not only against Arsenal but also against UEFA. He concluded that Atlético could have overcome the English team over 180 minutes, but not the European body.
