Sharjah24: Atlético Madrid announced that their Argentine striker Ángel Correa will be sidelined for five matches due to a suspension. This decision comes after he was involved in an altercation with the referee during the loss to local rivals Getafe, 1-2, in the 27th round of La Liga.
Details of the incident
Correa was sent off two minutes before the end of regular time for a foul on Togolese player Djene Dakonam while his team was leading. Following this, Atlético conceded two late goals. The 30-year-old then engaged in a heated argument with referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernández.
Disciplinary action
Correa received a one-match suspension for the red card and an additional four matches for his verbal assault on the referee, as stated by the Spanish Football Federation's disciplinary committee. They noted that Atlético's attempt to downplay Correa's behavior—claiming he was "very tense" and under significant pressure—could not justify the harsh remarks directed at the referee.
Correa's apology
After the match, Correa apologised for his behavior in a post on X, stating, "I fully respect referees, and this was an unusual reaction from me. I was very angry about leaving the team to play with ten men at such a critical moment, and my reaction was the worst possible. I hope my sincere apology is accepted."
Impact on Atlético Madrid
As a result of this defeat, Atlético Madrid dropped to third place, trailing both their rivals Real Madrid and league leaders Barcelona, who have a game in hand. Correa will miss the return leg of the semi-final cup match against Barcelona (having drawn 4-4 in the first leg) on April 2, as well as league matches against Barcelona, Espanyol, Sevilla, and Valladolid consecutively.
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