VAR Audio: Romero Booking and Huijsen Red Explained

The RFEF and LaLiga have published VAR audio from the disputed Atlético de Madrid–Real Madrid derby on their social media channels, with the recordings corresponding to the Comité Técnico de Árbitros. The clips address two of the flashpoint decisions from the Metropolitano: the correction of Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero’s booking involving Jude Bellingham, and the upgrade of Dean Huijsen’s yellow card to a red. Related coverage on the VAR audio and Huijsen’s red card breaks down the full sequence of events.

VAR audio explains Romero-Bellingham decision

The first review came in the 39th minute, after referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz had already booked Bellingham. VAR official Daniel Jesús Trujillo called for a review not to assess whether Romero's challenge deserved a red card, but because of a suspected mistaken-identity error: “I recommend a review so that you assess a potential error… A confusion of identity.”

Trujillo went on to explain what he had seen from the replay: the Atlético defender had stepped on the Real Madrid midfielder, while it was the Real Madrid player who had touched the ball first. Ortiz subsequently cancelled Bellingham’s yellow card and instead booked Romero. The published exchange does not show VAR ever recommending a red card for the Atlético defender.

Huijsen’s red card and the penalty review

The second intervention followed in the 51st minute, after Ortiz had already awarded a penalty and a yellow card against Huijsen for holding Giuliano Simeone. Trujillo recommended a further review, this time for a potential red card under the denial-of-an-obvious-goalscoring-opportunity rule, describing a hold with no genuine attempt to challenge for the ball.

Ortiz asked to see the position of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois before confirming his decision. “Okay, the goalkeeper is not within reach. Indeed, there is no dispute for the ball. I am going to change the yellow for the red and keep the penalty”, I concluded, upgrading the card while keeping the penalty award intact. Coverage of the derby result details how that dismissal shaped the rest of the contest.

Derby context

Both incidents took place during Sunday’s derby at the Metropolitano, a match ESPN Deportes described as polémico in reporting the release of the CTA-linked audio. The recordings were made public in the days after the fixture, offering the clearest official account so far of how the two reviews were reached on the pitch.

The published audio, as reported by ESPN Sportssets out the officials’ own reasoning for both calls rather than settling the broader debate over the derby’s other contested moments.