Referees Committee Acknowledge Mistake in Huijsen Dismissal, But Ban Remains

Key Takeaways:

• Dean Huijsen received a red card against Real Sociedad and has been suspended
• The Referees Committee stated a yellow card would have been more appropriate due to Militao’s proximity
• Real Madrid’s appeal has yet to overturn Huijsen’s suspension for the upcoming match against Espanyol

Incident Overview and Real Madrid’s Protest

Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen has been suspended for one match following his red card incident against Real Sociedad, a decision that caused significant frustration for the Spanish club. The sending off, occurring over the weekend, led to strong objections from Real Madrid, with their manager Xabi Alonso expressing dissatisfaction, labelling referee Jesus Gil’s justifications as ‘unconvincing’.

Continuing their efforts to contest perceived officiating injustices in Spain, Real Madrid have indicated intentions to bring a dossier before FIFA. This document reportedly alleges either bias or gross negligence against the club. The contentious event involved Huijsen fouling Mikel Oyarzabal as he advanced towards goal. However, Real Madrid assert that Eder Militao was positioned closely enough to potentially intervene before Oyarzabal could have a clear goalscoring chance.

🚨 CONFIRMED: Dean Huijsen will be BANNED for 1 match despite the Referee Technical Committee ADMITTING that Gil Manzano made a MISTAKE. @tjcope

Spanish football. 🙃 pic.twitter.com/1XH8VWo0rh

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) September 17, 2025

Referees Committee Review and Explanation

The Referees Committee (CTA), in their routine review of contentious decisions, clarified that the choice between a yellow or red card depends on the official’s interpretation of whether the defender denied ‘a promising attack’ or ‘a clear goalscoring opportunity.’ The CTA agreed that ‘a yellow card would have been a more accurate decision’ had the referee judged Militao near enough to challenge for the ball, given the distance Oyarzabal was from the goal at that moment. Nevertheless, the referee deemed Huijsen guilty of denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, prompting the red card.

The CTA further explained that, since the situation was not classified as a ‘clear and obvious error,’ VAR had no cause to intervene. The committee concluded that the matter fell within an interpretative grey area, justifying their support for the on-field referee’s judgement. Whether Militao could have prevented the goalscoring opportunity, therefore, remains subject to interpretation.

Disciplinary Action and Appeal Status

Despite concerns over the referee’s application of the rules, Real Madrid moved to contest the decision. However, their appeal was lodged prior to the official CTA assessment and could not reference these later findings as evidence. According to Cadena Cope, Huijsen has been issued a one-match suspension, ruling him out of Real Madrid’s upcoming fixture against Espanyol. The club is still awaiting the final verdict on their appeal.