{"id":5483,"date":"2026-09-24T06:13:59","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T06:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/?p=5483"},"modified":"2026-09-24T06:13:59","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T06:13:59","slug":"barcelona-star-rodri-agrees-with-real-madrid-over-kang-in-lee-red-card-i-dont-think-anyone-would-deny-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/?p=5483","title":{"rendered":"Barcelona star Rodri agrees with Real Madrid over Kang-in Lee red card: \u2018I don\u2019t think anyone would deny that\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Real Madrid<\/a> played a controversial Madrid derby to close out club football just before the international break, losing 2-1 in a game marred by refereeing controversy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Los Blancos<\/em>\u2019 anger over the refereeing in their derby defeat has received some unexpected support from Barcelona midfielder Rodri<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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That said, the Spain international disagreed with suggestions that refereeing decisions are being used to shape the title race.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Rodri agrees Madrid should have faced nine men<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Speaking to COPE<\/a>, Rodri said Atletico Madrid deserved their victory on the balance of the football, but agreed with Jose Mourinho\u2019s assessment of two of the most controversial incidents at the Metropolitano.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cFrom a footballing perspective, it was an even match. I think Atletico had more presence on the pitch, made better decisions, turned the game around, and I think they deserved to win,\u201d <\/strong>Rodri said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Fede Valverde was on the receiving end of a crunching tackle from Kang-in Lee. (Photo by Angel Martinez\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He was then asked about the challenges involving Cuti Romero and Kang-in Lee, both of which became central to Mourinho\u2019s furious response after the match.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cAnd then there are incidents that could have been handled differently; I don\u2019t think anyone would deny that,\u201d<\/strong> Rodri said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cCuti\u2019s challenge is a bit trickier because I\u2019m not sure whether he could have pulled his foot away or not. And perhaps in Kang-in\u2019s case, though I don\u2019t think he did it on purpose, a red card could have been given.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Kang-in incident has become particularly significant because Fede Valverde suffered an ankle injury following the challenge and is expected to spend time on the sidelines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Rodri sees them as individual refereeing mistakes<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Rodri nevertheless drew a clear distinction between questioning individual decisions and suggesting the competition itself is being manipulated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI think referees can sometimes make mistakes, but I don\u2019t believe they have a significant impact over the course of a 38-match league season in that regard,\u201d<\/strong> he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Asked specifically about claims that La Liga<\/a><\/em> is being prepared for Barcelona to win, Rodri was unequivocal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI think that does football a disservice; I think we should try to avoid that sort of talk; I think football is above all that,\u201d<\/strong> he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rodri denies La Liga title race conspiracy. (Photo by Alex Caparros\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re human and we all make mistakes. There are days when you\u2019re on form and days when you\u2019re off form, and sometimes that works against you and sometimes it doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s fine to defend your club and stand your ground, in fact, I\u2019ve done so myself on a few occasions, but only up to a point. I don\u2019t believe in that sort of thing.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rodri\u2019s comments are interesting from a Real Madrid perspective. A player representing their biggest title rival accepts there was a case for stronger punishment in the derby, particularly for Kang-in.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The ex-Manchester City superstar was then also asked about the what he felt about Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe campaigning publicly for the Ballon d\u2019Or.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As a recipient of the award himself in the past and in the reckoning this time as well, he remained coy in his response.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m a humble guy; I think it\u2019s great that the best in the world are being considered. Now everything is more open than in the Messi and Cristiano era<\/strong>,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

When the shoe is on the other foot<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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With Rodri, there is the obvious angle of how he was very close to a move to Real Madrid before making a U-turn to join Bar\u00e7a<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Over the course of a long La Liga<\/em> season, refereeing decisions will undoubtedly also go against the Catalan club.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It remains to be seen whether Rodri is able to react to those in the same way he has reacted to the wrong refereeing decisions against Madrid.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The bottom line, however, is that the referee cost Los Blancos<\/em> the Madrid derby, and it remains to be seen how La Liga<\/em> go about keeping such incidents in check in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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