Arbitration Committee Admits Error in Huijsen’s Red Card from Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad

Referee Committee Acknowledges Error in Dean Huijsen’s Expulsion

The Spanish refereeing committee has admitted that the red card shown to Dean Huijsen in the match between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad was an incorrect decision. The incident occurred in the 32nd minute of the LaLiga match, where the central defender was sent off for a foul on Mikel Oyarzabal near the halfway line. Referee Jesús Gil considered that Huijsen was the last defender and that the action prevented a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Coach Xabi Alonso stated that the referee’s explanation after the match “didn’t convince me much”.

Xabi Alonso

In a weekly video from the refereeing committee, the play was analyzed and it was concluded that the decision to send off Huijsen was incorrect. Spokesperson Marta Frias explained that the interpretation of the presence and distance of a second defender can change the sanction from a yellow card to a direct red card. The committee argued that, depending on the interpretation, the action could have resulted in a yellow card instead of a red card, as it did not meet the necessary criteria to be considered a “clear goalscoring opportunity”.

Caption: Dean Huijsen was sent off against Real Sociedad. However, the arbitration committee defended the VAR’s performance, arguing that it should not intervene in errors that were not clear and obvious. It was considered that the play in question was in a “gray area” that admitted more than one interpretation, so the main referee’s decision should be maintained. Real Madrid planned to appeal Huijsen’s red card, who could be suspended for one match. The team is already without another central defender, Antonio Rüdiger, who is expected to be out of action for between 10 and 12 weeks due to a muscle injury.