'Nonsense': Atlético enraged at referee in La Real draw

Atlético Madrid’s players insulted the decisions of referee Cesar Soto Grado and VAR’s Jaime Latre in Saturday night’s 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad.

After seeing Alvaro Morata’s two first-half goals ruled out by Joao Felix’s handball, the Rohiblancos had to watch as La Real forward Omar Sadik equalized in the 55th minute — The ball apparently rolls off the Nigerian’s shoulders and arms.

Substitute Ángel Correa seemed to miss a 1-1 chance in the penalty area after Sotograd fouled in the 96th minute of a game with nine yellow cards (four for Atlético). Rather than play with an advantage, the referee chose to give his kick free to Atleti outside the area as Antoine Griezmann was knocked down on a penalty.

Photo by Ion Alcoba/Quality Sports Images/Getty Images

“(Soto Grado) could have let the play go on like he did on other occasions, but he declined it,” Koke told Movistar after the match. I don’t know if it was or not, but I think he had to let the play go on.The VAR checked for our disallowed goal and their goal went off hand too.(Referee) come talk to us And they act differently than they tell us”

“Their goals were scored with hands,” Koke later said on Atlético’s official social media channels.

After the match, Axel Witzel said: “It was worth more than one point. “I saw the video where we conceded, but the attacker scored with his arm after the ball hit his head.”

Tomás Reñones, the club’s liaison who played for Atlético in the 1980s and 1990s, has taken a tougher line as Spain’s refereeing standards continue to unexpectedly deepen.

“You have to understand that referees can have bad days too. Today is a clear example of a very bad day. The general sentiment is one of great disappointment,” he said. rice field. “Each year, at the beginning of the season, the referee tells us a story, but what happens after that is completely different… We spent a lot of money on VAR, but the judgment is still personal”

Reñones also complained about the number of fouls Morata and João Felix received. 13 times in 4 games He hasn’t scored a goal since scoring a hat-trick assist against Getafe three weeks ago.

Both Morata and Marcos Llorente Uploaded an Instagram story after the game It shows a Real Sociedad player pulling on his jersey and hindering his progress.

“(Real Sociedad) have always been allowed fouls and have not been penalized, they have even been warned,” said Reñones. “And when a goal can be scored at the end of a match, the referee doesn’t let you keep checking if the play is over when you can see it in the VAR… It’s a series of nonsense”

Atlético may be rightfully frustrated with refereeing and the highly inconsistent standards that seem to change from week to week, but the Rohiblancos have to clean this up quickly.After just four weeks of action, Atléti are five points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid and head to home to Civitas Metropolitano to face Porto in the Champions League group stage opener on Wednesday.

“We have to keep playing and accept what has been done, because they won’t change anything after it happened,” Morata said after the game.