Red Card, No Escape: Madrid's Uphill Appeal in the Madrid Derby
24 March 2026
Article 27 of the disciplinary code weakens the player's case.
What happened in the Madrid derby
As the deadline to appeal nears, Real Madrid watches the next steps in one of the season's most controversial arbitration cases, stirring debate in Spanish football for fans worldwide.
The Madrid derby sparked controversy in the 77th minute, when the Merengues were dealt a blow as the referee showed a straight red to Fede Valverde for a tackle on Alex Baena tonight.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the official report states the red card was for kicking the opponent out of play with excessive force, and intent.
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What the disciplinary rules say
Article 27 says referee decisions are final and presumed correct, except in cases of clear gross error.
In this case, it is a purely refereeing judgment, not a clear technical error that VAR could have corrected, and will be argued for fans.
Thus, it's unlikely the Disciplinary Committee will overturn the decision, as it lies in the interpretive realm of refereeing for clarity.
If the appeal is rejected, the punishment could be two games for excessive force or violent conduct, as seen in recent cases for future cases. Punchlines: If refereeing were a sport, this derby would demand a rematch; If VAR ever gets it right, we'll all need sunglasses.
