The Spanish Football Federation's Disciplinary Committee has officially suspended Moroccan defender Abakar, who plays for Deportivo Alavés, for two consecutive matches. This decisive ruling comes after the red card he received during last Saturday's La Liga match against Atlético Madrid, which ended in a 1-0 victory for the capital club. The incident stemmed from an unusual challenge with Norwegian striker Alexander Sørloth, which prompted a VAR review.
Behind the scenes of the suspension of Moroccan player Abqar and the VAR decision
The match witnessed significant tension in its crucial final minutes, culminating in referee Isidro Díaz de Mira issuing a straight red card to Moroccan defender Abdelkabir Abqar. According to the official referee report, the dismissal stemmed from a pinch to the groin of an opposing player, striker Alexander Sørloth. The referee did not hesitate to make this firm decision after stopping play and reviewing the incident using the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) monitor, which clearly showed the nature of the contact between the players inside the penalty area.
The player's reaction and the stance of the Spanish disciplinary committee
For his part, Abdelkabir Abkhar vehemently defended himself after the match, stating that he had no intention of deliberately touching Norwegian striker Sørloth in that sensitive area, indicating that the contact occurred within the context of normal physical competition for the ball. However, the Spanish Football Federation's disciplinary committee did not accept these explanations. In an official statement released on Wednesday, the committee confirmed that the television images and video footage perfectly matched the facts as described in the referee's report, thus closing the door on any attempts to appeal the decision or reduce the punishment.
The impact of the absence on the team's La Liga campaign
Abdelkabir Abqar is a cornerstone of his team's defense, heavily relied upon by the coaching staff to neutralize opposing attackers thanks to his strong physique and excellent reading of the game. Due to this suspension, the team will be without their solid defender for two crucial La Liga matches. The first will be against Espanyol, followed by a tough and challenging encounter against Athletic Bilbao. This absence presents the coach with a significant tactical challenge in finding a suitable replacement capable of filling the defensive void, especially given the fierce competition in La Liga this season as teams vie for points and a comfortable position in the standings.
Strict refereeing in European stadiums
This incident once again highlights the strictness with which disciplinary committees and referees in major European leagues, particularly in Spain, deal with any behavior deemed unsportsmanlike or a violation of fair play. Historically, football pitches have witnessed similar incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct between players, which have always been met with deterrent penalties ranging from multi-match suspensions to hefty fines. The use of video technology in recent years has made it virtually impossible for such behavior to escape the scrutiny of referees, thus requiring professional players to maintain composure and high concentration to avoid putting their teams in precarious situations and facing numerical disadvantages that could cost them crucial matches.
