Real Madrid News
Real Madrid’s appeal to overturn key midfielder’s one-match suspension rejected
Federico Valverde was shown a red card in Real Madrid’s recent clash against Atletico Madrid for a rash challenge on Alex Baena, one that the referee deemed sufficient to have the player sent off.
The midfielder was handed a one-match ban as a result, meaning he will miss the upcoming game against RCD Mallorca.
Los Blancos, however, remain firm on their stance that the red card was given due to the past between the two players and that it would only have been a yellow card had any other player been at the receiving end.
As a result of their staunch belief, the men in white filed an appeal to have the one-match suspension overturned.
Appeal rejected
However, as reported by Diario AS, the RFEF Appeals Committee rejected Real Madrid’s claim and has upheld the decision made by the RFEF Competitions Committee to hand Valverde a one-match suspension.
Thus, the player will miss Real Madrid’s upcoming game and will not be available when the team takes on Mallorca immediately after the international break as he must serve a one-game ban.
Los Blancos’ claim against the situation was that the referee was mistaken in his report. They claim that Valverde’s tackle was not ‘without being at a distance to play the ball’ and that the midfielder was well within range of winning possession.
The committee, however, did not find the video proof attached satisfactory enough to overturn the suspension and stated that the action was a part of play and will be considered a direct consequence of it.
Valverde will thus feature next for Real Madrid in the team’s game against Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal.
For the Mallorca clash, Alvaro Arbeloa must work out a formula to minimise the void left by his absence.
Real Madrid News
Former Real Madrid manager defends Vinicius following red card vs Villarreal: ‘I don’t see intentionality’
Real Madrid resumed their campaign with a narrow win over Villarreal and three points, but it was yet another controversial affair due to refereeing decisions.
Vinicius Jr thought he had doubled Madrid’s lead against Villarreal, only for the goal to be chalked off and the Brazilian to be sent off in the same breath.
A VAR review showed Vinicius had tugged the hair of Villarreal’s Nathan Saliba in the build-up, prompting referee Isidro Diaz de Mera to void the goal and brandish a straight red.
The decision has split opinion, and one Madrid great has come out firmly in the forward’s corner.
Jorge Valdano on Vinicius’ red
Former real Madrid player and manager Jorge Valdano, speaking to Movistar, saw little malice in the incident.
“It’s an absolutely instinctive gesture. He feels they’re closing him in, he wants to get rid of it, and he does it in the most illegal way he can find,” he said (h/t Mundo Deportivo).
Drawing a distinction with more serious offences, he added: “It would make the difference between what is a spit, for example, and what this is.”
The former World Cup winner was unequivocal in his assessment of the act itself. “I don’t see any intentionality, the dirtyness of the action,” he concluded.
Ominous time for Vinicius
Valdano’s sympathy will do little to console Vinicius Jr., who might be staring at a lengthy suspension after the red card incident.
The Brazilian is already at risk of missing the Clasico on October 25, with the final disciplinary ruling still to come.
The referee’s report logs two separate matters. The first is the hair pull itself; the second is his reaction, described as continued loud protests and an aggressive approach to the official that forced Federico Valverde, Antonio Rudiger and others to restrain him.
Depending on how that conduct is classified, the suspension could stretch to two, three or four games. The one reprieve is that the red card is domestic, leaving Vinicius free for Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Roma.
