La Liga Officials Admit Refereeing Mistake in Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid Derby
The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) in La Liga acknowledged a major officiating error during the intense derby between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. The incident involved Lee Kang-in, who should have received a red card for a dangerous tackle on Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde, which caused severe ankle trauma.
What Went Wrong?
Match referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias and the VAR team failed to penalize Lee's reckless challenge. Despite clear visibility of the incident, play continued uninterrupted. Valverde suffered significant injury from the studs of the South Korean’s boot. Real Madrid's medical team later confirmed the seriousness of Valverde’s ankle damage, fueling frustration over the refereeing decisions.
Other Key Refereeing Decisions Reviewed
The CTA also looked at two other controversial moments from the Metropolitano clash:
- Dean Huijsen of Real Madrid was correctly sent off by VAR for a professional foul on Giuliano Simeone.
- Cristian Romero escaped a red card despite a dangerous tackle on Jude Bellingham, an incident the committee described as confusing but ultimately accepted the referee’s decision.
Jose Mourinho Reacts Strongly
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho expressed anger after seeing Romero avoid a sending-off following his foul on Bellingham. Mourinho criticized both referee Arias and VAR official Daniel Jesus Trujillo Suarez:
"The referee had no experience to officiate a derby. He’s 41 years old and has only done minor matches. He is a poor referee. Congratulations to the refereeing committee for this appointment. Mr. Trujillo does have a history with Real Madrid, including incidents in the Cup, Girona, and Osasuna. He is a VAR official with a lot of history."
VAR Issues Cast Shadow Over Derby
The match was overshadowed by these refereeing controversies. Arias originally booked Bellingham for the collision with Romero, but VAR overturned it, showing the referee’s poor judgment. Still, the failure to review Lee Kang-in’s dangerous tackle on Valverde remains the most damaging error of the weekend.
The CTA’s admission offers little relief to Real Madrid. Valverde, a key player who featured in every game this season and scored in the Champions League, will be sidelined. This injury leaves a gap in midfield for Mourinho’s squad, already behind in the La Liga title race.
Impact on Standings and Upcoming Fixtures
After losing the derby 2-1, Real Madrid sits fourth in La Liga, six points behind leaders Barcelona. The team’s next focus is domestic recovery, with a match against Villarreal scheduled for October 10 after the international break. After that, they face a critical Champions League trip to Roma in Italy.
International Implications for Valverde
Valverde’s injury also threatens his availability for Uruguay’s upcoming friendlies versus Japan and South Korea—the latter ironically led by Lee Kang-in. This adds further complications for Uruguay’s national team coach Diego Forlan.
Upcoming La Liga Matches
- Deportivo Alaves vs Atletico Madrid – October 10, 2026, 17:15
- Real Madrid vs Villarreal – October 10, 2026, 22:00
