Atlético de Madrid's forward Ángel Correa has received significant backlash following his expulsion during the recent La Liga match against Getafe. The incident occurred on March 9, 2025, and has resulted in Correa being handed a five-match suspension due to his aggressive outburst aimed at the officiator, Guillermo Cuadra Fernández.
During the match, with Atlético leading 1-0, Correa was shown a yellow card for a hard tackle on Getafe’s Djené Ortega in the 88th minute. The situation took a dramatic turn when the VAR review deemed the foul worthy of a direct red card, sending Correa off for violent conduct. His frustration boiled over, leading to him unleashing profanity directed at the referee, including phrases such as “son of a thousand bitches” and “coward.” This reaction prompted the Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to evaluate the incident carefully.
Consequently, on March 12, 2025, the RFEF announced Correa would face a five-match suspension. This ruling comprised one match for the violent foul and four matches for his combined insults and verbal offenses against the referee, marking it as a serious breach of discipline under Article 99 of the RFEF's Disciplinary Code. The harsh penalty came as Atlético de Madrid’s title aspirations hang delicately, with the club only one point behind rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The suspension means Correa will miss pivotal matches, including their upcoming showdown against Barcelona on March 16, 2025. Atlético's next La Liga match against RCD Espanyol follows on March 29, and he will not be eligible to play again until April 20 when the team faces Las Palmas. Notably, this suspension also extends to the Copa del Rey, where Atlético is vying for the title against Barcelona.
After the incident, Correa took to social media to express his regret. "I was very heated for leaving the team with ten at such a delicate moment and reacted in the worst way. I hope he accepts my most sincere apologies. I also want to apologize to my teammates and coach and to our fans for an action I should not have performed and cost us dearly," he shared. Despite his public display of remorse, the apology did little to mitigate the disciplinary actions against him.
Enrique Cerezo, the president of Atlético de Madrid, commented on the situation, stating, "He made mistakes by insulting the referee and the sanction he has received seems normal to me.” Cerezo’s remarks underline the seriousness of maintaining decorum within competitive sports and reflect the club's acknowledgement of the mistakes made by their star player.
This incident has once again opened discussions concerning the role of VAR and its impact on player conduct. The emotional volatility experienced by players during high-stakes matches like this one is palpable, but such conduct toward referees cannot be excused, as emphasized by the disciplinary ruling. Coaches and clubs alike must find ways to instill discipline and emotional control amid intense pressure.
The dispute over the severity of the punishment continues, as Atlético de Madrid has the option of appealing the decision. Nonetheless, the weight of the evidence against Correa as documented by the match officials makes any chances of overturning the suspension slim. These events hearten the call for more stringent measures to maintain respect for refereeing authority on the field.
The pressure is now palpable on Atlético’s management as they navigate their title chase without one of their key players. The upcoming fixtures loom large, with the supporters and the team hoping to mask Correa’s absence and sustain their push for silverware. This episode may serve as a lesson not only for Correa but for all players on the need for composure and respect, even when the stakes are high.
With tensions running high, it remains to be seen how Atlético de Madrid will respond on the pitch without their talented forward, who will be sidelined until well past the season’s climax. Matches against fierce rivals like Barcelona and Real Madrid will test the club’s fortitude and depth, putting additional pressure on the remaining squad members to perform under heightened scrutiny.