Atletico's Lee Kang-in Should Have Been Sent Off for Dangerous Tackle on Real Madrid’s Valverde, Confirms La Liga Refereeing Body
The La Liga Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has acknowledged a serious error during Atletico Madrid's 2-1 win over Real Madrid. The officials missed a clear red card offense when Lee Kang-in made a brutal tackle on Real captain Federico Valverde, which resulted in severe ankle trauma for the midfielder.
Referee and VAR Fail to Act on Brutal Challenge
Match referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias did not punish Lee’s tackle despite having a direct view. The Video Assistant Referee team also chose not to intervene. Valverde suffered significant damage to his left ankle after being caught by Lee’s studs, with Real Madrid’s medical staff confirming the seriousness of the injury. This left the club frustrated at the lack of disciplinary action during the game.
CTA Reviews Other Key Decisions from the Derby
The refereeing committee also examined two other contentious moments. They supported the delayed VAR decision to send off Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen for a professional foul on Giuliano Simeone. However, they found the referee’s choice to spare Cristian Romero a red card after a dangerous tackle on Jude Bellingham confusing, allowing the incident to stand without dismissal.
Jose Mourinho Criticizes Refereeing
"The referee had no experience to officiate a derby. He’s 41 years old and has only handled minor matches," said Real Madrid’s coach Jose Mourinho after the match. "Congratulations to the refereeing committee for this appointment. Mr Trujillo (VAR official) has a lot of history with Real Madrid, including in the Cup, Girona, and Osasuna matches."
Officiating Flaws Cast Shadow Over Derby
The clash was marred by these officiating problems. Initially, Bellingham was booked for the collision with Romero, but VAR reversed that decision, showing the referee misjudged the situation. Still, the biggest controversy remains the failure to penalize Lee Kang-in’s dangerous challenge on Valverde.
The CTA’s admission brings little relief for Real Madrid, who now face the challenge of replacing Valverde, an important player who had featured in every game this season and scored in the Champions League. His injury leaves a significant gap in midfield as the team trails in the league.
Impact on Real Madrid and Valverde's International Duty
Real Madrid currently sit fourth in La Liga, six points behind leaders Barcelona after Sunday’s defeat. Their next fixtures include a home game against Villarreal on October 10 and a key Champions League match away to Roma. Meanwhile, Valverde’s injury casts doubt over his availability for Uruguay’s upcoming friendlies against Japan and South Korea, complicating matters for national coach Diego Forlan.
- La Liga Fixtures:
- October 10, 2026 - 17:15: Deportivo Alaves vs Atletico Madrid
- October 10, 2026 - 22:00: Real Madrid vs Villarreal
