Getafe Defender Sent Off for Grabbing Opponent's Genitals in Bizarre LaLiga Incident
A LaLiga match between Getafe and Atletico Madrid descended into chaos on Saturday when Getafe defender Abdel Abqar was shown a red card for grabbing the genitals of Atletico striker Alexander Sorloth. The extraordinary incident, which occurred around the 55th minute, left players and supporters at the Metropolitano stadium in a state of shock and disbelief.
Confusion and VAR Review Unfold
Referee Miguel Angel Ortiz initially halted play after being alerted by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system to a potential sending-off offence. This caused several minutes of confusion, as the stoppage followed a seemingly routine challenge between Nahuel Molina and Mauro Arambarri, with no obvious red card offence visible to those in attendance.
Clarity only emerged when Ortiz consulted the pitchside monitor. Replays displayed on the stadium's big screens revealed an off-the-ball altercation, clearly showing the Moroccan defender touching the Norwegian forward's groin area. Sorloth reacted with immediate anger, grabbing Abqar's arm and pulling him to the ground in retaliation.
Disciplinary Actions and Match Outcome
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 and dramatic subplot to the match, which was ultimately decided by Molina's first-half goal, securing a narrow 1-0 victory for Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid side.
The bizarre episode overshadowed the sporting contest, with fans and pundits alike left stunned by the nature of the offence. Atletico Madrid currently sit third in the LaLiga table with 57 points, six behind second-placed Real Madrid and ten adrift of leaders Barcelona, both of whom have a game in hand over their rivals.
