VIDEO – Getafe player expelled for grabbing Sorloth’s genitals in controversial match.

The victory of Atlético de Madrid by 1-0 over Getafe in La Liga last Saturday was marked by a controversial incident that left fans and the press in an uproar. The expulsion of Getafe defender Abdel Abqar for a contentious foul on forward Alexander Sorloth overshadowed the home team’s performance, which saw Nahuel Molina open the scoring with a spectacular goal just eight minutes into the match.

However, the celebratory atmosphere at the Estadio Metropolitano turned to chaos seven minutes after the start of the second half. Referee Miguel Angel Ortiz halted the game to review a potential red card via the video assistant referee (VAR). Replays showed that Abqar, in an off-the-ball dispute, made contact with Sorloth’s thigh, who reacted by dragging the defender to the ground. After reviewing the monitor at the side of the pitch, Abqar was sent off, while Sorloth received a yellow card for his response.

“It was not my intention to touch the player in that area,” Abqar defended himself in statements to Movistar. “We see this in every game; in football, we are always touching and colliding, but I never thought about touching him there. I don’t know what the referee saw, but it’s clear that I never intended to do that.” However, his words did not manage to erase the controversy surrounding the incident.

The Atlético goalkeeper, Juan Musso, did not hesitate to criticize the Getafe defender’s attitude, stating: “These are things that happened 30 years ago. The referee was right to send him off. You could do this [in football] before, but now there is no place for such things.” Musso’s comments highlight the change in modern football, where behaviors once deemed acceptable are now severely punished.

Before the interruption caused by the incident, Sorloth had already shown his worth by hitting the post, but it was Getafe who, despite being at a numerical disadvantage, had several opportunities to equalize in the final minutes. In the end of the day, Atlético de Madrid secured their fourth consecutive victory, climbing to third place in the La Liga table with 57 points. Diego Simeone’s team is now six points behind the second-placed Real Madrid and ten points behind the leaders, Barcelona, having played one more match.

This incident raises questions about ethics and behavior within sports, reflecting the need for a cleaner and more respectful game in the modern era. What was once seen as a mere physical contest is now scrutinized with a critical eye, creating an environment of increased oversight and penalties in football.