Diego Simeone’s Fury After Controversial VAR Decision
Diego Simeone’s Fury After Controversial VAR Decision
Drama Seals Real Madrid’s Qualification
Diego Simeone furious, questioning the call after the match
Real Madrid secured a place in the Champions League quarter-finals after a dramatic penalty shootout win against city rivals Atletico Madrid.
The match ended 0-1 in regular time (4-2 after penalties), but controversy erupted when Julian Alvarez’s penalty was ruled out by VAR.
Simeone’s Outburst: “Raise Your Hand If You Saw It!”
Atletico’s head coach Diego Simeone expressed his frustration in the post-match press conference.
He questioned the legitimacy of the VAR decision, claiming no one saw Alvarez’s double touch.
Simeone stated, “Raise your hand if you saw Julian touch the ball twice. No one raises their hand. I have never seen VAR disallow a penalty in a shootout.”
Despite acknowledging the referee’s authority, Simeone remained unconvinced by the call.
He admitted the elimination was painful but praised his team’s effort.
— Daniel Ceballos (@DaniCeballos46) March 12, 2025
Ceballos Responds to Simeone’s Frustration
Adding to the controversy, Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos mocked Simeone’s complaint.
The midfielder responded on social media, posting a subtle response with a raised-hand reference, implying that he indeed saw Alvarez’s double touch.
Real Madrid Holds Its Nerve in Penalty Shootout
The match saw an early goal from Conor Gallagher in the first minute, setting up a tense battle. Both teams fought intensely, but neither could break the deadlock before extra time.
During the penalty shootout:
- Mbappé, Sorloth, and Bellingham converted their penalties.
- Alvarez’s penalty was disallowed due to the double touch.
- Valverde and Correa successfully found the net.
- Lucas Vazquez missed for Real Madrid.
- Marcos Llorente hit the crossbar for Atletico.
- Rüdiger’s shot, despite being weak, crossed the line to seal Madrid’s victory.
What’s Next for Atletico?
Eliminated in dramatic fashion, Atletico must now regroup quickly for their upcoming La Liga clash against Barcelona.
Simeone admitted his squad is exhausted after the intense battle and extra time.
