La Liga Officials Admit Refereeing Mistake in Madrid Derby Over Lee Kang-in's Tackle on Federico Valverde

The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) for La Liga has acknowledged a major mistake during Atletico Madrid's 2-1 win against Real Madrid. The controversy arose when referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias and the VAR team did not send off Lee Kang-in after a dangerous tackle that seriously injured Real captain Federico Valverde.

CTA Confirms Red Card Should Have Been Given

According to AS, the CTA confirmed that Lee Kang-in deserved a red card for the harsh challenge that caused severe ankle trauma to Valverde. The referee saw the incident but chose not to penalize it, and VAR officials also declined to intervene.

Valverde suffered significant damage to his left ankle after being struck by the studs of the South Korean player. Real Madrid's medical team later confirmed the seriousness of the injury, leaving the club upset over the lack of action during the match.

Other Controversies Reviewed

The refereeing committee also examined two other notable incidents from the game. They agreed with the delayed VAR decision to send off Real defender Dean Huijsen for a professional foul on Giuliano Simeone. Yet, they upheld referee Arias’s decision not to send off Cristian Romero for a reckless tackle on Jude Bellingham, describing the situation as confusing.

Mourinho Criticizes Refereeing Decisions

"The referee had no experience to officiate a derby. He is 41 years old. He is a poor referee who has only done minor matches," said Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho after the loss. "Congratulations to the refereeing committee for this appointment. But Mr. Trujillo [VAR official Daniel Jesus Trujillo Suarez] has a history with Real Madrid. In the Cup, in Girona, Osasuna. He is a VAR official with a lot of history."

VAR Controversy Overshadows the Match

The match was clouded by questionable officiating choices. Initially, Bellingham received a yellow card for the collision with Romero, but VAR reversed that decision, showing the referee misjudged the play. The failure to review the dangerous tackle on Valverde remains the most serious error.

The CTA’s admission provides little solace for Real Madrid. Valverde had been a key player for Mourinho this season, appearing in every game and scoring in the Champions League. His injury leaves a significant gap in midfield for a team already struggling in the league.

Impact on Title Race and Upcoming Fixtures

Following the defeat, Real Madrid sits fourth in La Liga, six points behind leaders Barcelona. Their focus shifts to domestic recovery, with a home match against Villarreal scheduled for October 10 after the international break. After that, they face an important Champions League match away at Roma.

International Concerns

Valverde’s injury also casts doubt over his participation in upcoming friendlies for Uruguay against Japan and ironically South Korea, adding trouble for national coach Diego Forlan.

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