The Spanish Referees’ Committee (RFEF’s technical unit) has officially acknowledged a mistake in the red card shown to Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen during the club’s 2-1 win over Real Sociedad. According to reports, VAR official Figueroa Vázquez failed to prompt referee Jesús Gil Manzano to review the incident at the monitor, a procedural step that could have reversed the punishment.
The incident occurred just after the half-hour mark when Huijsen was judged to have committed a last-man challenge on Mikel Oyarzabal. Many observers argued that Huijsen was not the last defender and that teammate Éder Militão was close enough to offer cover, making the red card disputable. The failure of the VAR official to intervene via a monitor review has become the central focus of the controversy.
Marking a rare public correction, the Referees’ Committee is reported to be taking disciplinary measures. Vázquez is expected to be removed from upcoming match assignments for an unspecified period, reflecting the severity with which the oversight is being treated. Whether Huijsen’s red card will officially be overturned remains under review. Some sources suggest that if the error is confirmed, the card may be reclassified or rescinded in the coming days.
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Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso and players expressed frustration with the decision immediately after the match. Alonso emphasized the importance of VAR as a corrective tool but warned that failing to use it properly undermines trust in officiating. Huijsen himself was visibly emotional after his dismissal, which rules him out of key upcoming fixtures.
The broader implication is a renewed scrutiny of VAR protocols in La Liga, especially around last-man challenges and monitor station reviews. Several matches in this early phase of the season have featured tight margins — referees and VAR officials alike are under pressure to apply consistency.
For Real Madrid, the focus now shifts to the disciplinary outcome and whether the disciplinary body will reverse the red card decision. Meanwhile, Vázquez’s sidelining is being viewed as a warning that even officials are not immune to accountability when procedural errors cost players and teams.