Getafe defender Abdel Abqar found himself at the centre of a bizarre and controversial incident on Saturday night, going viral after being sent off for allegedly pinching an opponent's genitals during his side's LaLiga clash against Atletico Madrid.
Chaos Erupts at the Metropolitano
The match, held at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, descended into chaos just seven minutes into the second half following a shocking off-the-ball altercation. With Atletico leading 1-0 thanks to a first-half strike from Nahuel Molina, referee Miguel Ortiz Arias halted play and signalled for a VAR check.
Replays subsequently showed Abqar clashing with Atletico striker Alexander Sorloth. In the footage, the Moroccan defender appeared to nudge Sorloth as he walked past him before seemingly using his thumb and index finger to pinch the Norwegian forward's groin area.
Immediate Reaction and Red Card
This action infuriated Sorloth, who did not go to ground but instead retaliated by pulling Abqar to the floor. After a lengthy review at the VAR monitor, referee Arias made the decisive call to brandish a red card towards Abqar, while Sorloth received a yellow card for his part in the confrontation.
The incident quickly spread across social media, with footage from the match drawing widespread attention and debate among football fans and pundits alike.
Abqar Pleads His Innocence
However, Abqar was left visibly shocked by the decision and vehemently pleaded his innocence after the final whistle. Speaking to Movistar LaLiga, the defender insisted the contact was unintentional.
'I want to make it clear that it wasn't my intention to touch the player in that area,' Abqar stated. 'In football, we touch each other, we collide, but I didn't intend to touch him there. The video clearly shows that I wasn't looking to touch him there.'
He continued with an emotional appeal, saying, 'I swear I didn't intend to touch him; I wanted to make contact, as happens in football. What the referee saw was that I wanted to touch him there, but it wasn't my intention. I swear on my family that I didn't want to touch him there.'
Abqar further explained his perspective, adding, 'They stop him there, but if you watch the video, I don't look at him, and my hand is meant to touch his stomach, like sometimes I touch an opponent to find out where he is. I want to make it clear that I didn't mean to touch him there.'
Managerial and Player Reactions
Getafe boss Jose Bordalas also leapt to the defence of his player in the aftermath of the match. 'I've seen the play, and from what's been said so far, I think Abqar is right,' Bordalas commented. 'At no point was he looking at Sorloth; they were jostling throughout the match, the typical thing between a striker and a defender. Without looking, he tried to pull at his shirt and grabbed his shorts.'
In contrast, Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Juan Musso offered a differing viewpoint, suggesting such incidents have no place in modern football. 'These are things that happened 30 years ago, the referee was right to send him off,' Musso asserted. 'Before you could do this [in football], now there is no place for these things.'
Match Outcome and League Implications
Despite the controversy, Atletico Madrid managed to hold on to secure a 1-0 victory. This result marked their fourth consecutive win in LaLiga, propelling them up to third place in the standings. The win also leaves them just six points behind second-place Real Madrid, tightening the race at the top of the Spanish top flight.
The bizarre incident involving Abdel Abqar is likely to fuel further discussion regarding player conduct, VAR interventions, and the boundaries of physical contact in professional football for days to come.
