CTA releases VAR audio from Atlético's win over Real Madrid

The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has released the audio of the exchanges between referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias and the VAR team in two disputed incidents from Atlético's 2-1 win over Real Madrid at the Metropolitano. Daniel Trujillo Suárez and Alejandro Muñiz were on VAR duty in the round 7 La Liga game.

The first came on 37 minutes. Jude Bellingham brought down Cristian Romero with a sliding tackle, and Ortiz Arias booked the Real midfielder. After the replay he cancelled that card and cautioned the Atlético defender instead, because Romero had stepped with his studs on the opponent's leg just below the knee. Trujillo Suárez told him: "Miguel, I recommend checking, it may be a mistaken identification. I see the Atlético player stepping on the leg of the Real player, who is touching the ball."

Ortiz Arias, after watching the replay, replied: "Fine, I will cancel the yellow card of the Real player and show it to the Atlético player."

On 49 minutes Dean Huijsen held Giuliano Simeone by the arm inside the Real box. Simeone went down, and the referee awarded a penalty and showed Huijsen a yellow card. The replay changed the card. Trujillo Suárez said: "I see the Real player holding a player from whom it is impossible to take the ball, with a clear chance to score."

Ortiz Arias explained the decision: "I thought the goalkeeper could reach the ball. The goalkeeper is out of reach. I will replace the yellow card with a red and award a penalty."

Simeone, a forward with 11 goals for Atlético since joining in September 2024, won the penalty and, by our earlier report, set up the second goal.

The Romero recording bears on what José Mourinho said after the game. The Real coach argued that Romero and Lee Kang-in should have been sent off. The audio shows the VAR moving the yellow card from Bellingham to Romero, and the referee accepting that. It contains no discussion of a red card for the Atlético defender.

If Real Madrid pursue the matter, the Huijsen exchange gives them little to work with, since the VAR and the referee agree on the reasoning. The Romero incident is the one where Mourinho's complaint may keep being aired.