Referees’ Committee admits Atletico star should have been sent off vs Real Madrid

The recent Madrid derby once again made headlines for its many controversies, including a couple of questionable refereeing calls that completely sided with Atletico Madrid.

Perhaps the biggest of them all was Kang-in Lee’s challenge on Federico Valverde, which left the Real Madrid midfielder pick up an injury that will keep him out for a few weeks.

Lee’s challenge was blatant and dangerous and in any other day, the Atletico Madrid player could have easily gotten a red card. That was not the case here.

Kang-In should have been sent off

Now, according to the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), Kang-In Lee should indeed have been dismissed for the dangerous challenge on Valverde just before half-time, reports AS.

“Kang-In Lee is launching to cut a preview of Fede Valverde. It impacts with the cleats on the leg with joint twisting and high risk of injury.

Lee’s challenge left Valverde injured. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

“Direct free kick and red card. Clear and manifest error of the referee. The VAR should have intervened,” the CTA confirmed.

It represents a notable admission of fault, with the officials acknowledging that both referee Ortiz Arias and the VAR failed to correctly punish an action deemed serious foul play.

Had Kang-In been dismissed, the complexion of the derby could have been very different, and Real Madrid would not have lost Valverde to injury in the process.

The Cuti Romero decision defended

However, the CTA stood firm on another contentious incident involving Cristian Romero and Jude Bellingham, insisting the yellow card shown was correct.

Romero was involved in a spat with Bellingham. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Initially, Ortiz Arias had awarded a foul against Bellingham, before the VAR intervened to flag an identity error and switch the decision. Real Madrid had claimed the challenge warranted a red card, but the Committee disagreed.

“Cuti Romero, after playing the ball, steps on Bellingham’s leg. There is an intensity with high interpretive load. The stomp is produced in the same incident assessed by the referee.

“On the monitor he evaluates the stomp as a reckless one,” the Committee explained, concluding: “It’s direct free kick and yellow card. The VAR was right to intervene.”

The CTA also backed the decision to send off Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen and award Atletico a penalty, ruling that Giuliano Simeone had the position won before being fouled.

For Real Madrid, the admission over Kang-In offers little consolation given the result already stands, and with Valverde now sidelined, the frustration at the Bernabeu will only grow.