Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde recently received a one-match suspension following his red card during Sunday’s Madrid derby victory against Atletico Madrid. The Uruguayan international was sent off for a challenge on Alex Baena. Despite an appeal lodged by Real Madrid officials, it was rejected by the Spanish Football Federation’s Competition Committee.
Fortunately for Real Madrid, Valverde’s punishment was the minimum possible: a single-match ban. This means he will miss the upcoming away fixture against Mallorca after the international break but is cleared to return for the home game against Girona the following weekend.
The Competition Committee’s ruling has ignited controversy, with Atletico Madrid openly challenging what they perceive as double standards. The club took to social media to highlight a past decision by the same committee that resulted in a different outcome under similar circumstances.
Atletico initiated their thread on X (formerly Twitter) with a sarcastic remark directed at the Competition Committee: “Congratulations, you are the best at this. Goal accomplished: 1 game for Valverde.” They then contrasted the official report of Valverde’s dismissal with that of Athletic Club midfielder Oihan Sancet, who was sent off in November against Barcelona for a comparable tackle.
Their posts sarcastically implied, “Football fans can go on vacation with peace of mind, knowing that the colour of the jersey and the media noise do not influence the decisions of sports justice.”
Atletico concluded their criticism by stating: “Same committee. Same wording of the minutes. Different criteria.”
Atletico’s Broader Discontent Following Madrid Derby Defeat
Earlier in the week, Atletico had already expressed their significant frustration through another social media thread. They voiced unhappiness with several decisions that went against them at the Bernabeu on Sunday, including the denial of a penalty claim after Marcos Llorente’s clash with Dani Carvajal in the early moments of the Madrid derby.
It remains to be seen if Atletico’s social media campaign will escalate further, but their consistent posts clearly underscore their deep dissatisfaction with recent events and decisions.
