The referee of the match between Alavés and Atlético de Madrid sent off right winger Ángel Pérez after a harsh challenge on Julián Álvarez, a decision that the player immediately questioned. According to Pérez, the violation was comparable to one he had suffered in the first half, when Lookman received a yellow card for a similar challenge.
The incident occurred in the 61st minute, when Pérez, who had been putting pressure on Grimaldo on the right wing, became involved in a split ball. In the process, he made a forceful tackle on the support foot of Álvarez, who was left in pain on the field and received medical assistance. Initially, referee Quintero González showed a yellow card to Pérez, but after the intervention of the VAR, referee Pulido Santana reviewed the play and decided that the action deserved an expulsion.
The VAR was able to intervene because the game was stopped while Álvarez was treated. Upon returning to the baseline, the referee changed his decision, overturning the yellow card and showing a red card to Pérez. The player, upon leaving the field, stated that the tackle had been the same as the one he received in the first half, which was not reviewed by the VAR.
Alavés finished the game with one less player, which affected their defensive ability in the second half. The match ended without goals being scored, leaving Alavés with a defeat that added to their difficult campaign. The team's next games will be crucial to try to reverse the negative trend.