Spain's refereeing body has conceded a major error in the Madrid derby. The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) reviewed the most contentious calls from Atlético Madrid's 2–1 win over Real Madrid on matchday seven of LaLiga 2026/27 and reached a troubling conclusion: Lee Kang-in should have been shown a straight red card.
The South Korean midfielder's studs-up challenge on Federico Valverde went unpunished by referee Ortiz Arias and was not flagged by the VAR room. The CTA's admission validates the frustration that boiled over in the Real Madrid camp and adds another layer to the ongoing debate about officiating standards in Spain's top flight.
Valverde's injury raises alarm
The tackle left Valverde with severe trauma to his left ankle, a worrying sign for Real Madrid's medical staff. The Uruguayan international finished the match in visible discomfort, and his availability for upcoming fixtures is now in question. The fact that such a dangerous challenge was overlooked—both on the pitch and in the video review booth—has only deepened the sense of injustice within the squad.
Real Madrid's official statement after the match was blunt, calling Ortiz Arias's performance "very terrible" and pointing out that he failed to send off Cristian Romero for stepping on Jude Bellingham's knee in the first half. The club's frustration is understandable, especially given the physical toll on a key player like Valverde.
VAR decisions that were upheld
Not everything went against Real Madrid in the CTA's review. The panel fully backed the decision to send off defender Dean Huijsen, confirming that VAR correctly alerted the referee to a foul on Giuliano Simeone inside the box. They also validated the correction that saw Romero receive a yellow card instead of Bellingham, determining that the Argentine defender was the true offender in that confused sequence.
These rulings show that the CTA is not simply siding with the losing team's complaints. But the admission regarding Lee Kang-in is significant—it acknowledges a clear miss that could have changed the course of the match.
Mourinho's criticism and the bigger picture
Real Madrid manager José Mourinho did not hold back after the final whistle, questioning the experience level of both Ortiz Arias and VAR official Daniel Jesús Trujillo Suárez for a match of this magnitude. The CTA's official acknowledgment of the error lends weight to his words and fuels the broader conversation about consistency in refereeing across LaLiga.
For neutrals, this incident is another reminder that even with video assistance, mistakes still happen. For Real Madrid fans, it's a bitter pill to swallow, especially with the Spanish Super Cup looming and the season's stakes growing higher.
The derby itself was a thrilling contest, with Atlético taking the bragging rights at the Metropolitano. But the aftermath has been dominated by officiating, and the CTA's admission ensures the debate won't fade quickly. As the league moves forward, the focus will be on whether such errors can be minimized—and whether Valverde's injury will keep him out of action.
For now, Real Madrid's focus shifts to recovery and preparation, while the refereeing committee faces renewed scrutiny over its standards. The financial muscle of the league's biggest clubs doesn't shield them from these controversies, and the calls for greater accountability are only getting louder.
