In a dramatic turn of events during Saturday’s LaLiga fixture at the Metropolitano stadium, Getafe defender Abdel Abqar was shown a straight red card following a video assistant referee (VAR) review. The Moroccan player was penalized for an off-the-ball incident where he grabbed the groin of Atletico Madrid’s Norwegian striker Alexander Sorloth, an action that shocked both players and fans alike.
The incident unfolded around the 55th minute of the match, when referee Miguel Angel Ortiz abruptly stopped the game after receiving an alert from the VAR team. Initially, the stoppage caused confusion among the spectators and players, as it came immediately after a seemingly routine challenge between Atletico’s Nahuel Molina and Getafe’s Mauro Arambarri. There was nothing in that particular duel to suggest a serious foul or misconduct that would warrant a red card.
However, the mystery was soon solved when Ortiz took a moment to consult the pitchside monitor. Replays displayed on the stadium’s large screens revealed a separate altercation away from the ball involving Sorloth and Abqar. The footage clearly showed Abqar making inappropriate contact by grabbing the groin area of the Norwegian forward. This unsportsmanlike behavior provoked an angry response from Sorloth, who retaliated by grabbing Abqar’s arm and pulling him down to the ground.
After carefully reviewing the video evidence, the referee made the decisive call to send off Abqar with a straight red card for his misconduct. Meanwhile, Sorloth was cautioned with a yellow card for his reaction to the provocation. This extended VAR review and the resulting disciplinary actions added an unexpected twist to the match, disrupting the flow of play for several minutes and creating a tense atmosphere on the pitch.
Despite the controversy, the game’s outcome was ultimately decided by a first-half goal from Nahuel Molina, which proved enough for Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid to secure a narrow 1-0 victory. This win keeps Atletico firmly in third place in the LaLiga standings with 57 points. They trail second-placed Real Madrid by six points and are ten points behind the league leaders, Barcelona, who both have a game in hand. The match highlighted the intensity and physicality often seen in top-tier Spanish football, as well as the crucial role VAR continues to play in ensuring fair play.
