Atlético deserved red cards in Madrid derby — Barcelona’s Rodri

Abdullateef Fowewe

Barcelona midfielder and Spain captain Rodri has acknowledged that Atlético Madrid players should have seen red cards during their 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the recent Madrid derby, while still insisting Atlético deserved the win on footballing merits.

Speaking to COPE, Rodri said, “Madrid derby? From a footballing perspective, it was an even match. I think Atlético had more presence on the pitch, made better decisions, turned the game around, and I think they deserved to win.

“Of course, there were incidents during the match that could have been handled differently. For me, both Cuti Romero and Kang-in deserved red cards.”

The comments refer to two flashpoints that sparked fury from Real Madrid after the defeat at the Metropolitano.

Early on, Atlético defender Cristian “Cuti” Romero (who joined the club from Tottenham in the summer) planted his studs on Jude Bellingham’s knee in a challenge that was reviewed by the referee but only resulted in a yellow card.

Later, new signing Kang-in Lee stepped on Federico Valverde’s ankle, leaving the Real Madrid midfielder with a serious sprain; no card was shown at the time.

Real Madrid later issued a statement condemning the refereeing, claiming the missed reds shaped the outcome.

The Spanish referees’ technical committee subsequently ruled that Lee’s challenge was a clear error that should have been a red card, while describing Romero’s incident as more open to interpretation.

Rodri, who joined Barcelona after leaving Manchester City, struck a measured tone overall.

He added that referees can make mistakes but that such errors do not decide a full 38-game league season, and he criticised conspiracy-style rhetoric about officials favouring one club, saying it “damages football.”

His willingness to highlight the potential red cards for Atlético players has drawn attention given his new club allegiance, offering a rare admission from a Barcelona figure on a derby that continues to generate debate over officiating.