La Liga Refereeing Body Acknowledges Atletico's Lee Kang-in Should Have Been Sent Off for Tackle on Real Madrid’s Valverde

The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) in La Liga has conceded a major error during Atletico Madrid’s intense 2-1 win over Real Madrid. The committee acknowledged that Lee Kang-in should have received a red card for a brutal tackle that severely injured Real captain Federico Valverde. The referee, Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias, along with the VAR team, failed to penalize the challenge during the match.

Unpunished Challenge Results in Serious Injury

Valverde suffered significant trauma to his left ankle after Lee’s studs caught him in the tackle. Despite the referee having a clear view, the game continued without any action against Lee. Real Madrid’s medical staff later confirmed the severity of the injury, causing frustration within the club due to the missed on-field punishment.

Additional Controversies Reviewed by CTA

The committee also looked over two other key incidents from the derby. They supported the VAR decision to send off Real defender Dean Huijsen for a professional foul on Giuliano Simeone but described the decision to let Atletico’s Cristian Romero stay on the pitch after a dangerous tackle on Jude Bellingham as confusing.

Jose Mourinho Criticizes Refereeing Performance

“The referee had no experience to officiate a derby. He’s 41 years old. He’s a poor referee who’s only ever done minor matches,” said Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho after the game. “Congratulations to the refereeing committee for this appointment. But Mr Trujillo [VAR official] does have a history with Real Madrid. He’s a VAR official with a lot of history.”

Mourinho’s anger targeted both Arias and VAR official Daniel Jesus Trujillo Suarez following the defeat, highlighting issues with their decisions.

Officiating Errors Overshadow Match

The clash was marred by these refereeing mistakes. Initially, Bellingham was booked for the collision with Romero, but VAR overturned it, exposing the referee’s poor judgment. Yet the biggest error remains the failure to review Lee’s dangerous tackle on Valverde, which could have altered the match’s tone and outcome.

The CTA’s admission offers little relief for Real Madrid, as Valverde has been a key player this season, appearing in every match and scoring in the Champions League. His injury leaves a significant gap in midfield for a team already behind in the league race.

League Standings and Upcoming Challenges

• La Liga Position: Real Madrid sit fourth, six points behind leaders Barcelona after Sunday’s loss.
• Next Matches: Real will host Villarreal on October 10, followed by a crucial Champions League trip to Roma.
• Valverde’s International Future: His injury casts doubt on his participation in Uruguay’s upcoming friendlies against Japan and South Korea, complicating matters for national coach Diego Forlan.