Azpilicueta escapes red card: Arbitral decision analyzed in detail
The match between Atlético de Madrid and Barcelona was marked by arbitral controversy from the first minutes. A tackle by Azpilicueta on Raphinha generated controversy and lit up social networks.
In the 7th minute, the rojiblanco defender hit the Barcelona player with his studs on the calf, an action that was initially sanctioned with a yellow card by Munuera Montero. After the VAR review, the referee maintained his decision, unleashing a debate among fans and experts.
Iturralde González, a renowned referee and analyst, assessed the play on the microphones of Carrusel Deportivo. According to Iturralde, Azpilicueta’s action was worthy of a yellow card, although he acknowledged that an expulsion would not have been unreasonable either.
“It’s a yellow for Azpilicueta. Between yellow and orange. He doesn’t catch him and leave the studs on his leg, in that case we would be talking about another action. He hits him very glancingly, not fully.
Yes, if he pulls out a red, you wouldn’t say he’s gone crazy,” explained Iturralde, adding that the key lies in the fact that Azpilicueta does not make full impact with the studs and continues the travel of the foot after contact.
Munuera Montero’s final decision to maintain the yellow card for Azpilicueta generated relief among the Colchonero fans, who feared playing the rest of the match with one less man. Minutes later, De Paul was also booked for a foul on the same Raphinha. An intense match with arbitral decisions that, without a doubt, gave something to talk about.
