Real Madrid News
Referees’ Committee admits Atletico star should have been sent off vs Real Madrid
The recent Madrid derby once again made headlines for its many controversies, including a couple of questionable refereeing calls that completely sided with Atletico Madrid.
Perhaps the biggest of them all was Kang-in Lee’s challenge on Federico Valverde, which left the Real Madrid midfielder pick up an injury that will keep him out for a few weeks.
Lee’s challenge was blatant and dangerous and in any other day, the Atletico Madrid player could have easily gotten a red card. That was not the case here.
Kang-In should have been sent off
Now, according to the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), Kang-In Lee should indeed have been dismissed for the dangerous challenge on Valverde just before half-time, reports AS.
“Kang-In Lee is launching to cut a preview of Fede Valverde. It impacts with the cleats on the leg with joint twisting and high risk of injury.
“Direct free kick and red card. Clear and manifest error of the referee. The VAR should have intervened,” the CTA confirmed.
It represents a notable admission of fault, with the officials acknowledging that both referee Ortiz Arias and the VAR failed to correctly punish an action deemed serious foul play.
Had Kang-In been dismissed, the complexion of the derby could have been very different, and Real Madrid would not have lost Valverde to injury in the process.
The Cuti Romero decision defended
However, the CTA stood firm on another contentious incident involving Cristian Romero and Jude Bellingham, insisting the yellow card shown was correct.
Initially, Ortiz Arias had awarded a foul against Bellingham, before the VAR intervened to flag an identity error and switch the decision. Real Madrid had claimed the challenge warranted a red card, but the Committee disagreed.
“Cuti Romero, after playing the ball, steps on Bellingham’s leg. There is an intensity with high interpretive load. The stomp is produced in the same incident assessed by the referee.
“On the monitor he evaluates the stomp as a reckless one,” the Committee explained, concluding: “It’s direct free kick and yellow card. The VAR was right to intervene.”
The CTA also backed the decision to send off Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen and award Atletico a penalty, ruling that Giuliano Simeone had the position won before being fouled.
For Real Madrid, the admission over Kang-In offers little consolation given the result already stands, and with Valverde now sidelined, the frustration at the Bernabeu will only grow.
In a major update, AS reports that former Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Toni Kroos has taken his first step towards starting his coaching career.
The former Germany international has told the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that he is interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers.
Real Madrid tried to bring Kroos back
It is no secret that Real Madrid considered bringing Toni Kroos back into the club’s structure after the end of the last season.
The club president, Florentino Perez, had wanted Kroos to have a daily presence at Valdebebas rather than making occasional appearances after his retirement.
Jose Angel Sanchez and Kroos spoke after Perez expressed his desire to see the German working at Valdebebas every day. However, they did not find the right moment, time or structure to give his return a clear form.
A comeback remains one of the possibilities most desired by Madrid supporters because of Kroos’ charisma and what he represents at the Santiago Bernabeu. Neither side wanted him to return simply for the sake of it, so the door remains open for the future.
The relationship between the two parties is excellent, and both know that the opportunity to work together again will eventually come.
Taking it step by step
For now, Kroos continues to run the academy he established in Boadilla, enjoying the opportunity to help develop younger players.
After two years away from the competitive side of football, however, he is beginning to look towards the dugout as a possible next step in his career.
Kroos currently holds coaching qualifications that allow him to work up to the third tier of Spanish football.
This is possible because professionals with at least seven years of proven experience and significant involvement at the elite level can gain direct access to accelerated coaching courses.
That means Kroos could coach a team in Primera Federacion, but the German wants to take things gradually.
Kroos has already informed the RFEF that he would be interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers during the 2027/28 season.
The course taking place this season is not available to elite former players, with UEFA limiting each campaign to 20 places.
With his current qualifications, Kroos could work as an assistant coach, but he cannot yet take charge as a head coach in either the top flight or the Segunda División.
But completing that programme would allow Kroos to obtain the UEFA A licence, which would enable him to coach teams at any level.
