In the recent Madrid classic between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid, referee Soto Grado awarded a penalty in favor of Atlético after a VAR review. The play in question involved a stomp by Aurélien Tchouaméni on Samuel Lino inside the area. This decision has caused various reactions and analyses regarding the conversation between Soto Grado and the VAR.
The Controversial Play and the VAR Intervention
During the first half of the match, Samuel Lino fell in the area after contact with Tchouaméni. Initially, Soto Grado didn't call the foul, but after being alerted by the VAR, he decided to review the play on the fieldside monitor. After observing the footage, he concluded that there was a clear stomp by the Real Madrid player.
According to the recorded conversation, Soto Grado stated: "He steps on him there with the studs." After this evaluation, he decided to award the penalty without showing a yellow card to Tchouaméni, indicating: "I'm not going to issue a warning, just a penalty." Finally, Julián Alvarez scored the first goal with a masterful shot from the penalty spot.
Soto Grado's decision caused various opinions: the well-known journalist Tomás Roncero expressed his discontent, suggesting that if the situation had been reversed, the penalty wouldn't have been awarded. Roncero commented: "If it's in Atlético's area..." Meanwhile, Real Madrid's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, also showed his discontent with the referee's decision.
Impact on the Match and Teams' Performance
The penalty was successfully executed by Julián Álvarez, putting Atlético de Madrid ahead on the scoreboard. However, Real Madrid managed to equalize the match with a goal by Kylian Mbappé at the start of the second half. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, a result that keeps Real Madrid at the top of the standings with 50 points, closely followed by Atlético with 49 points.
The transparency in communication between the referee and the VAR has been highlighted in this match. The revealed conversation shows the decision-making process and the collaboration between both to reach a fair conclusion. Soto Grado, after reviewing the footage, determined that Tchouaméni's contact on Lino was sufficient to sanction the penalty, but he didn't consider it necessary to warn the Real Madrid player.
César Soto Grado's decision in the Madrid classic has been the subject of debate, but his communication with the VAR demonstrates the effort to ensure accurate decisions in crucial moments. Atlético de Madrid, under Simeone's direction, took the opportunity to take the lead, although Real Madrid managed to equalize later. These types of situations highlight the importance of the VAR and the clarity in referee communication in modern soccer.