Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa has been banned for the next five La Liga games – one game for his red card during Sunday’s game at Getafe, and four games for insulting the referee after his dismissal.
The 30-year-old was initially yellow carded for the tackle on Getafe’s Djene Dakonam late in the game, but after a VAR review the punishment was upgraded to a straight red by referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez.
According to Fernandez’s official report, Correa said “son of a huge b****, piece of s***, mother-f*****” to the referee before he left the pitch.
On Wednesday morning, the Spanish federation’s disciplinary committee imposed the five-game punishment – meaning Correa will miss Sunday’s La Liga game against Barcelona at the Estadio Metropolitano, and Atletico’s forthcoming matches against Espanyol, Sevilla, Real Valladolid and Las Palmas.
When approached for comment by The Athletic, Atletico said that they are “studying the findings” and are yet to decide if they will appeal against the punishment.
Diego Simeone’s side were 1-0 ahead when Correa was sent off with 88 minutes played in the game at Getafe’s Coliseum stadium.
The 10 men quickly conceded two goals and lost the game 1-2, missing the chance to overtake current leaders Barcelona and go top of the La Liga table.
Speaking afterwards, Simeone did not criticise Fernandez’s decision to show the red card, but said it was a debatable call which could have gone either way. The coach did not discuss Correa’s words to the referee before he left the pitch.
Atletico face Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Wednesday, having lost the first leg 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu last week.
(Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
