NewsBeat
Getafe defender Abdel Abqar sent off for grabbing Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth’s genitals in bizarre LaLiga incident
A LaLiga clash between Getafe and Atletico Madrid took an extraordinary turn on Saturday when Getafe’s Abdel Abqar was shown a red card for grabbing the genitals of Atletico striker Alexander Sorloth.
The incident, which left players and supporters at the Metropolitano stadium stunned, occurred around the 55th minute.
Referee Miguel Angel Ortiz initially halted play after being alerted by VAR to a potential sending-off offence, causing several minutes of confusion.
The stoppage initially baffled those in the stadium, as it followed a seemingly routine challenge between Nahuel Molina and Mauro Arambarri, with no obvious red card offence.
Clarity emerged only when Ortiz consulted the pitchside monitor. Replays shown on the stadium’s big screens revealed an off-the-ball altercation, clearly showing the Moroccan defender touching the Norwegian forward’s groin.
Sorloth reacted angrily, grabbing Abqar’s arm and pulling him to the ground.
After reviewing the footage, the referee issued Abqar a straight red card for unsportsmanlike behaviour, while Sorloth received a yellow card for his reaction.
The lengthy delay added an unusual subplot to a match ultimately decided by Molina’s first-half goal, securing a 1-0 victory for Diego Simeone’s side.
Atletico Madrid currently sit third in the LaLiga table with 57 points, six behind second-placed Real Madrid and 10 adrift of leaders Barcelona, both of whom have a game in hand.