Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees stated that Lee Kang-In deserved a red card during the recent Madrid derby, while they supported the decision not to penalize Cristian Romero. Atlético Madrid secured a 2-1 victory in the high-stakes LaLiga match, but Real Madrid coach José Mourinho criticized referee Miguel Ortiz Arias after the game, presenting printed images to argue that both players should have been sent off.
Lee’s tackle on Federico Valverde led to a severe ankle injury, sidelining the Uruguayan midfielder from his national squad for upcoming matches, while Romero’s incident with Jude Bellingham, where he stepped on the English player’s knee, both occurred in the first half while the score was still 0-0. Lee was not penalized, and although Romero initially received a yellow card, the VAR intervention later resulted in a booking for Bellingham instead.
In their weekly assessment of controversial refereeing decisions, the CTA reviewed these incidents along with a red card issued to Dejan Huijsen of Madrid for a foul on Atlético’s Giuliano Simeone, concluding that the red card was the correct call after a VAR review. They noted that Huijsen had “grabbed the arm” of Simeone, preventing him from playing the ball.
Regarding Lee’s challenge, the CTA identified a “high risk of injury” to Valverde and deemed Ortiz Arias’s choice not to issue a red card as a “clear and obvious error,” which VAR should have corrected. They also affirmed VAR’s correct intervention for Romero’s yellow card.
Mourinho expressed his frustration with both the referee and VAR after the match, suggesting Ortiz Arias “couldn’t handle the pressure” and recalling VAR’s contentious history with Real Madrid. This defeat left Mourinho’s team in fourth place in LaLiga, now six points behind the leaders, Barcelona, after seven games.
Fan Take: This controversy highlights the ongoing debate about officiating in soccer, particularly how VAR can influence match outcomes. Fans are eager for improvements in refereeing standards, as consistent officiating is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the game.
Source: www.espn.com
