Refereeing Error Acknowledged
Spain’s officiating body has publicly acknowledged a significant refereeing error concerning Dean Huijsen, a defender for Real Madrid, during the team’s recent 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday. The pivotal incident occurred in the 32nd minute when Huijsen was issued a straight red card for a tackle on Mikel Oyarzabal, which the referee, Jesus Gil, deemed as denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Coach’s Reaction
Coach Xabi Alonso expressed his dissatisfaction with the referee’s explanation following the match, stating it did not adequately address the situation. In response to the growing frustration over officiating inconsistencies, Real Madrid TV reported that the club is gathering evidence of refereeing mistakes from the past year to present to FIFA.
Committee’s Clarification
In a new series of weekly videos aimed at clarifying contentious decisions, the committee, led by spokesperson Marta Frias, conceded that Gil’s judgment was incorrect.
The committee explained that the context of the play could lead to different interpretations: if a second Real Madrid defender was deemed to be close enough to challenge for the ball, only a yellow card would be warranted for what was classified as a promising attack. Conversely, if it was considered that the defender could not reach the ball, the red card would be justified.
However, they concluded that the criteria for a denial of goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) were not strictly met, suggesting that a yellow card would have been more suitable. Despite the errors, the committee maintained that the video assistant referee (VAR) was correct in not intervening, as the incident fell into a category of decisions that allow for subjective interpretations. They emphasized that VAR should only be used to correct clear and obvious mistakes.
Next Steps for Real Madrid
Following the controversy, reports emerged that Real Madrid intends to appeal Huijsen’s dismissal, which is likely to result in a one-match suspension. The club is also contending with further defensive woes, as Antonio Rüdiger is sidelined for an estimated ten to twelve weeks due to a muscular injury.
