Mourinho fires back at referee after Raphinha ‘mustache’ story

José Mourinho didn’t hold back after a story surfaced involving a referee and Raphinha’s mustache. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, the coach pointed to the referee’s treatment and used it to question the broader context around match decisions.

The mustache remark

According to Fabrizio Romano, Mourinho was referring to the official from a Madrid derby who, recently, allegedly told Raphinha: “I like your musta”. Mourinho linked that detail to what he described as something laughable going on around the game.

In his comments, Mourinho made his stance clear: “There’ve been laughable things. This gentleman [the referee] has been very kind to a boy who’s a top player…”. With that line, the Portuguese manager suggested the referee’s approach wasn’t just a harmless aside, but part of a pattern that affects the atmosphere.

Mourinho’s message

Beyond the specific remark, Mourinho’s point was aimed at distancing himself from the way, in his view, certain interactions are tolerated in high-pressure moments. From his perspective, that “kindness” toward a top player becomes a sign of the kind of dynamic that can exist on the pitch.

For now, it remains to be seen whether the matter triggers any official clarification or further reactions from refereeing circles, but the spotlight is clearly on the reported comment about Raphinha’s mustache—according to Fabrizio Romano.