Champions League: Atlético de Madrid files a protest to UEFA for the controversial penalty against it :: Olé

The discomfort in Atlético de Madrid does not dissipate with the passing of the hours after the 3-1 defeat against Lille, for the Champions League. The result is painful, but what really remains at the center of the controversy is the penalty play that led to the 2-1 score for the French. From the locker room and the club they do not fully understand what happened in that key action of the match. Instead of resignation, the predominant feeling is total perplexity: Nobody understands what the referee whistled, or what was indicated to him by the VAR. That’s why, Colchonero has filed a formal complaint with UEFAseeking clarification on an action that was decisive in the development.

The incident in question occurred in the 74th minute, when, after a split ball inside the area, Marco Guida decided to award a penalty against the red and whites. The strange thing about the situation is that, According to the Atlético players, the referee first stated that it was a handball from Koke. However, The images clearly showed that the ball touched the arm of André, a Lille playerand not Koke. In the television broadcast, Guida can be seen pointing to his arm several times, which generated even more confusion.

Jan Oblak also expressed his frustration. “He told us that they were checking the hand, but in the end I don’t know what whistled. It hurt us, but we can’t complain because we also had chances to win the game”. The goalkeeper acknowledged that, despite the referee’s error, Atlético had opportunities to resolve the match before the controversial penalty play defined the course of the match.

Diego Simeone was even more explicit in his statements, making clear his indignation at what happened. “It wasn’t a penalty. He earned what he imagined, but what he imagined didn’t happen: he didn’t see it and neither did those who help him in the VAR.”declared the Argentine coach. “It’s 1-2, a decisive play, but no one cares. They are not going to do anything to the referee, and neither will the VAR…“added Cholo. In the press room, Simeone continued to criticize the referee’s decision: “First the referee said that it was a handball, then that there was something about Koke. Nobody understands it.”

Expert analysis also does not help to dispel doubts. Iturralde González, AS and SER referee, evaluated the play at the time in Carrusel Deportivo and was blunt: “Neither there is a hand nor Koke’s touch is enough to call a penalty”. Hours later, with greater calm and after reviewing the action several times, Iturralde maintained his position: “I’ve seen the play four or five times and I can’t believe it. It doesn’t even touch him. They have a tool, what they have to do is call him (the referee) and ask him to look at it“.

The result of the match, of course, will not change, but Atlético is still waiting for explanations. In Spain, the Federation publishes the audios of the conversations between the referee and the VAR in key plays like this, but in this case, the red and white club does not know what dialogue Guida and Pairetto, the VAR referee, had during the minutes of review . The lack of transparency is what bothers Atlético the most. Even, media and social networks, which are usually divided on these issues, have shown unusual unanimity in their criticism of the arbitration decision.

In an attempt to get answers, Atlético has presented the formal complaint to UEFA, seeking to at least clarify the reasons behind the designated penalty.. Although the final score, 1-3, will not change, the club understands that it is necessary to obtain some clarification to shed light on what happened. Meanwhile, Simeone’s words resonate strongly: “I hope we find something to say that it was criminal”. The coach, like the rest of the team, still does not understand how it was possible for the referee to make such a crucial decision without reviewing the images or receiving proper guidance from the VAR.