Refereeing Committee Admits Lee Should Have Seen Red for Valverde Tackle

Real Madrid have been left facing both an injury concern for Federico Valverde and renewed anger over officiating after the refereeing committee accepted that Lee should have been sent off for the challenge that damaged the midfielder’s left ankle in the derby at the Metropolitano.

Refereeing review of the derby

1. Valverde was caught by Lee’s studs in a challenge that caused severe trauma to the Real Madrid player’s left ankle. Ortiz Arias had a clear view of the incident but did not award a foul, while VAR did not advise a review or intervene.
2. The CTA subsequently concluded that Lee’s tackle warranted a dismissal. Madrid’s medical staff later confirmed the seriousness of Valverde’s ankle injury.
3. The committee also backed the eventual VAR-led sending-off of Dean Huijsen, judging that the Real Madrid defender had committed a professional foul on Giuliano Simeone.
4. In another major incident, Cristian Romero avoided a red card after a dangerous tackle on Jude Bellingham. The CTA accepted the referee’s decision, describing the episode as confusing.
5. Bellingham was initially booked following the collision with Romero before VAR overturned that caution, adding to scrutiny of Ortiz Arias’s handling of the match.

Mourinho criticises officials

Jose Mourinho was particularly unhappy that Romero was not dismissed after catching Bellingham around the knee. The Real Madrid manager directed his criticism at both Ortiz Arias and VAR official Daniel Jesus Trujillo Suarez after the defeat.

Mourinho said the 41-year-old referee lacked the experience required for a derby of that scale, arguing that he had previously handled only smaller fixtures. He also questioned the decision to appoint Trujillo Suarez, referring to the VAR official’s previous involvement in matches concerning Madrid, including Cup games against Girona and Osasuna.

For Madrid, the committee’s acknowledgement over the Valverde incident does not alter the immediate consequence. The midfielder had played in every match for Mourinho this season and had also scored in the Champions League, making his absence a significant problem in midfield.

League position and coming fixtures

The loss on Sunday left Real Madrid fourth in La Liga, six points behind leaders Barcelona. Their first match after the international break is a home league meeting with Villarreal on October 10, followed by a Champions League trip to Italy to face Roma.

Valverde’s injury could also affect Uruguay. He is a major doubt for the upcoming friendlies against Japan and South Korea, creating an unwanted selection issue for Uruguay coach Diego Forlan.