VAR clarified Romero’s case as mistaken identity in the derby

Miguel Ángel Ortiz, the referee of the Atlético de Madrid vs Real Madrid derby at the Metropolitano, checked via VAR Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero’s tackle on Jude Bellingham for “mistaken identity”, not to determine whether it should be a red card. This is what emerges from the VAR audio released by the RFEF and LaLiga, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.

Mistaken identity, not a red

The review began around minute 39. VAR official Daniel Jesús Trujillo alerted Ortiz after noting he had already booked Bellingham earlier in the same match. “You’re recommended to review… a potential error… a confusion of identity,” Trujillo told him. From the VAR booth, the explanation was that the Atlético player was the one who stepped on the Madrid player, while the Madrid player was the one who touched the ball.

Based on that, Ortiz overturned the initial call: he cancelled the yellow shown to the Madrid player and instead booked the Atlético player.

Huijsen sent off: no-ball-dispute logic

The VAR then intervened again in minute 51. After a penalty was awarded and Huijsen was initially shown a yellow for grabbing Giuliano Simeone, Trujillo recommended another check to assess a potential DOGSO red, for holding the opponent without a dispute for the ball.

Ortiz’s conclusion, according to the audio, was that the Real Madrid player was restricting the opponent in a clear goalscoring opportunity, adding that the goalkeeper was not within reach. With that assessment, Ortiz changed the yellow to a red while keeping the penalty—ending with Dean Huijsen being sent off, as Mundo Deportivo explains.