In a surreal turn of events at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Getafe centre-back Abdel Abqar received a straight red card after a VAR review confirmed he grabbed the genitals of Atlético Madrid striker Alexander Sørloth. The incident occurred during a tense La Liga clash on March 14, 2026, which saw Diego Simeone's side secure a narrow 1-0 victory. The dismissal has sparked widespread media attention across Europe due to the highly unusual nature of the professional foul.

Bizarre Dismissal

Abdel Abqar was sent off after VAR caught him grabbing the genitals of opponent Alexander Sørloth.

Atlético Victory

Nahuel Molina scored the only goal to secure a 1-0 win, moving Atlético Madrid into third place.

Referee Decision

Referee Miguel Ortiz issued the red card following a video review of the 'absurd' gesture.

Getafe centre-back Abdel Abqar was sent off for grabbing the genitals of Atlético Madrid striker Alexander Sørloth during a La Liga match on March 14, 2026, in an incident that drew widespread attention across European football. Referee Miguel Ortiz issued the straight red card after reviewing the incident on the VAR monitor. Atlético Madrid went on to win the match 1-0 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, with Nahuel Molina scoring the only goal. The result moved Atlético Madrid up to third place in the La Liga standings.

The incident occurred during the first half of the match. Abqar, a Moroccan centre-back who plays for Getafe CF, grabbed Sørloth in the groin area while the two players were in close proximity. Referee Ortiz initially did not issue a red card on the field, but following a VAR review he returned to the pitchside monitor and punished Abqar for the offence with a straight dismissal, leaving Getafe to play the remainder of the match with ten men. Sørloth, a Norwegian international striker, was not reported to have sustained any injury from the incident according to available sources.

With Getafe reduced to ten men, Atlético Madrid took control of the match and Molina, an Argentine right-back, converted what was described as a rocket finish to secure the three points. The victory at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano proved decisive in the context of the title race, lifting Atlético Madrid to third place in the La Liga table. According to reporting by Tages Anzeiger, Real Madrid also remained close to league leaders Barcelona following the weekend's results. The win reinforced Atlético's position as a contender in the upper reaches of the standings as the season entered its final stretch.

La Liga has seen a number of high-profile disciplinary incidents in recent seasons, though red cards for physical contact of this nature are exceptionally rare in professional football. Atlético Madrid and Getafe are both Madrid-based clubs who have met regularly in La Liga over the years. The Riyadh Air Metropolitano has served as Atlético Madrid's home ground since the club relocated from the Vicente Calderón stadium.

The incident attracted coverage from outlets across Europe, including Reuters, Le Figaro, Der Spiegel, and Der Tagesspiegel, reflecting the unusual nature of the dismissal. Several publications described the red card as absurd or surreal, with Le Figaro characterising it as an absurd red card for a Getafe player. Abqar, born on March 10, 1999, also represents the Morocco national team at international level. Molina, born on April 6, 1998, plays for both Atlético Madrid and the Argentina national team. The match result and the manner of the red card were among the most discussed moments of the La Liga matchday.

Atlético Madrid, Getafe CF