Atlético Madrid edged Getafe CF 1-0 in a tense La Liga clash. However, the match quickly became defined by a shocking incident involving Abdel Abqar and Alexander Sorloth.
The hosts started strongly at the Wanda Metropolitano after Nahuel Molina scored early. His eighth-minute strike flew into the top corner, instantly giving Atlético control.
Yet the contest changed dramatically shortly after the break.
Referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias stopped play following a VAR alert for possible misconduct.
Replays displayed on stadium screens appeared to show Abqar grabbing Sørloth’s genitals during an off-ball confrontation. The Norwegian forward reacted angrily and pulled the defender down moments later.
After reviewing the footage on the pitchside monitor, the referee dismissed the Moroccan defender. Sorloth was booked for retaliation as tensions briefly escalated.
“It was not my intention to touch the player in this area,” Abqar told Movistar afterwards. “You see it in every game, and in football, we’re touching, clashing and everything.”
Red card row dominates Atlético’s victory
“I never thought about touching him in that area,” Abqar added afterwards. “I don’t know what the referee saw but you can see it clearly.”
Meanwhile, Atlético goalkeeper Juan Musso supported the referee’s decision after the match. “These are things that happened 30 years ago, the referee was right to sent him off.”
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“Before you could do this [in football], now there is no place for these things.”Despite playing with ten men, Getafe created late chances but failed to score.
The result marked a fourth straight victory for Atlético under Diego Simeone. They climbed to third place with 57 points, behind Real Madrid and leaders FC Barcelona.
Tags: Ángel Ortiz Arias, Abdel Abqar, Alexander Sørloth, la Liga, Diego Simeone, Wanda Metropolitano, Atlético Madrid, Getafe.
