Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has hit out at the discussion of the VAR scandal, following Real Madrid’s controversial win over Almeria on Sunday.
After the match, in which three VAR decisions went in Real Madrid’s favour, aiding them in a 3-2 comeback win, the audio from the VAR room was released in which it is shown that the referee in the VAR room did not show the referee all of the angles. Internally, the Referees Committee have admitted that two of the three interventions were incorrect.
The next day, further audio was leaked of another incident, in which Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez sees Vinicius Junior strike Alejandro Pozo, but does not inform the on-field referee. A second leak shows Dani Ceballos body-checked by Chumi, where the VAR assistant ignores the incident again, but refers to Ceballos by his name, and the Almeria defender as ’21’.
Ahead of Atletico Madrid’s Copa del Rey quarter-final with Sevilla, Simeone said he had no opinion on that game, but asked about the VAR, El Cholo scoffed at the fact some were more concerned at the leaks themselves rather than the content.
“It’s so difficult… because depending on which side you take, there are situations. The referees go through a moment of pressure, the VAR improves them, but exposes them too. Then we can discuss whether the audios are good: the issue is not whether they leak them, but what happens in them. They think we are all stupid, and that makes us angry.”
🚨🎙️ Diego Simeone: “We hope Griezmann and Hermoso recover better by tomorrow, and then we’ll decide what’s best for everyone.” pic.twitter.com/GoousBktCM
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) January 24, 2024
On the officiating in general, he had this to say.
“What we all need is for things to be natural. We can all make mistakes, no one is perfect. But naturally, everything flows. But when they are not natural, everyone gets anxious. The referees are paralysed, it is a very complicated moment for them, and what we can do is be quiet and play, which is the only thing we can do.”
The Argentine manager was positive about his side, saying that ‘we are growing’, and was pleased with Morata’s efforts in particular. However he warned that Sevilla would be a tough test, and were in desperate need of results, which made them more dangerous, especially with the experience of Quique Sanchez Flores. Antoine Griezmann and Mario Hermoso retired from training on Wedensday due to fatigue, but are expected to be fit.
Of course they’re going to refer to Ceballos by his name. They are co-workers, working for the same club.
All this pales in comparison to injustice and shame brought to football by the Negreira scandal.