[Official] Was Lee Kang-in really "playing well for 90 minutes" despite the tackle? "Valverde has a serious ankle injury"... Return match at Sangam Stadium may be canceled

*This content was translated by AI.

Federico Valverde (28), whose ankle was stepped on by Lee Kang-in (25), appears to have sustained a serious injury.

Real Madrid issued an official statement on the 20th (Korea time) announcing, "Medical examinations revealed that Valverde has been diagnosed with a severe injury to his left ankle. Additional detailed tests will be conducted in the future." As a result, his participation in the A-match friendly between South Korea and Uruguay scheduled for the 28th at Seoul World Cup Stadium, as well as the possibility of a matchup against Lee Kang-in, have become uncertain.

The injury is linked to Lee Kang-in. In the final moments of the first half during the 7th round of the 2026-2027 La Liga season's "Madrid Derby" held at Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain on the 20th, Lee Kang-in attempted a tackle and forcefully stepped on Valverde's ankle. However, the match proceeded without any additional warnings or expulsions. Following this incident, Valverde played the full 90 minutes without being substituted.

In response, manager Jose Mourinho held up a printed paper showing the scene of Lee Kang-in's tackle during the post-match press conference and strongly criticized the refereeing team. Mourinho stated, "The referee lacks experience in handling derbies," and added, "Please allow Real Madrid to compete fairly. I don't want to say it was prearranged, but abnormal things happen at this stadium."

He further pointed to past allegations of match-fixing involving Barcelona referees, strongly protesting by asking, "Is there no longer a Negreira, or does he still exist?" The 'Negreira Scandal' refers to a controversy in which Barcelona allegedly paid a large sum to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, former vice chairman of the Spanish Referees Committee, sparking accusations of match-fixing.

Real Madrid's official club broadcast also described the refereeing decision as "disgusting," expressing the club's dissatisfaction and canceling all interviews in the mixed zone where players and coaches meet with media.

In contrast, Diego Simeone, manager of Atletico Madrid, avoided giving an immediate answer regarding the controversy over the refereeing decision, while goalkeeper Jan Oblak drew a line by stating it was solely a matter decided by the referee and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

The match ended with Real Madrid losing 1-2 despite being at a numerical disadvantage. After center-back Dean Huijsen received a direct red card early in the second half, Atletico gained momentum with an opening goal from Alex Grimaldo's penalty kick and consecutive goals by Jonathan David following Lee Kang-in's through pass. Real Madrid managed to score only one goal through Antonio Rudiger in the 44th minute of the second half.

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*This content was translated by AI.