Post-match review of incident says midfielder’s tackle of Atletico player was “compatible with serious foul play”
Federico Valverde has been handed a one-match suspension by the Spanish football federation following his red card in Real Madrid’s 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid.
The midfielder was sent off in the 77th minute at the Bernabeu for a challenge on Alex Baena, leaving Madrid to see out the match with 10 men.
According to the referee’s report, Valverde was dismissed for “kicking an opponent when [the ball] was not within playing distance, using excessive force”. Spain’s technical committee of referees (CTA) supported the decision after reviewing the incident.
“In this action, the Real Madrid player challenged for the ball in midfield,” a CTA spokesperson said. “[Valverde] made a challenge from behind, arriving late, making contact with the ankle and without a real possibility of playing the ball.
“The referee showed a straight red card, interpreting that he kicked the opponent, without being able to play the ball, and using excessive force. The VAR room, after revising the images from various angles, confirmed that the point of contact, the nature of the action and the intensity were compatible with serious foul play.”
Valverde will miss Madrid’s fixture against Mallorca on 4 April. He will instead return for the following game against Girona on 10 April.
