Valverde’s Punishment Sparks Controversy in La Liga… Comparisons with Similar Cases
According to the newspaper, the incident occurred during the Madrid derby, when Valverde’s team was leading 3-2, and the player kicked Alex Baena. The referee, Munuera Montero, showed a direct red card without hesitation, a decision that was not altered by the video assistant referee, leading to the player’s exit from the field.
The newspaper explained that the referee noted in the match report the reason for the dismissal, indicating that Valverde kicked an opponent without the ball being within playable distance, using excessive force, a description that was reflected in the televised replays from different angles.
The report pointed out that the surprise was not the dismissal decision itself, but what happened afterward, where the referee went to explain his decision to Real Madrid’s coach, an unusual act from referees, clarifying that the player came from behind and did not attempt to play the ball, intending to bring down the opponent with excessive force, justifying the direct red card.
The newspaper added that this act is exceptional, especially at Santiago Bernabeu, where dismissing one of the home team’s stars is rare, prompting the referee to provide explanations for his decision in an uncommon situation.
In a related context, the Spanish newspaper confirmed that the controversy increased after the punishment was issued, as Valverde was suspended for only one match, even though similar cases in the Spanish league, with the same wording in the referee’s reports, saw players suspended for two matches, which the newspaper considered a clear discrepancy in the application of penalties.
The newspaper also pointed out that the referees’ technical committee acknowledged the correctness of the dismissal decision, raising more questions about the sufficiency of a one-match punishment, amidst comparisons with similar past cases.
