Getafe defender Abdel Abqar was sent off during a La Liga match against Atletico Madrid on Saturday, March 14, 2026, following a highly unusual VAR intervention.
With Atletico leading 1-0 at the Metropolitano, referee Miguel Ortiz Arias halted the game in the 55th minute to investigate an off-the-ball incident. Replays appeared to show the Moroccan international reaching out and pinching the groin area of Atletico striker Alexander Sørloth as he walked past.
Sørloth reacted immediately, pulling Abqar to the ground in a brief wrestling-like scuffle. After reviewing the footage on the pitch-side monitor, the referee issued a direct red card to Abqar for “pinching the genital area of an adversary,” while the Norwegian striker received a yellow card for his retaliation.
The incident sparked a heated debate, with Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak later remarking that such tactics belonged to “football 30 years ago” and have no place in the modern game.
Following the match, a shocked Abqar adamantly denied any malicious intent. Speaking to Movistar La Liga, he explained that he was merely trying to place a hand on Sørloth’s stomach to track his position—a common defensive habit—and that the contact was accidental.
Swearing on his family, Abqar insisted that he wasn’t even looking at his opponent when the contact occurred and that the video had been misinterpreted. Despite his pleas, the dismissal left Getafe with ten men for the remainder of their 1-0 defeat.
Watch a video of the incident below:
🚨🚨| That moment when Abdel Abqar was sent off for Alexander Sørloth’s private area, causing Sørloth to react angrily and pull him down.
— Futball Centa (@futballcenta) March 14, 2026
