Real Madrid Wins With Huijsen Red Card Amid Refereeing Dispute

Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad despite being reduced to 10 men after Dean Huijsen received a controversial straight red card in the 32nd minute for a challenge on Mikel Oyarzabal. Head coach Xabi Alonso expressed strong disagreement with the referee's decision and found the VAR explanation unconvincing, asserting that the foul merited a yellow card rather than a dismissal, especially given that teammate Eder Militao was positioned to cover the play. The club perceives a double standard in refereeing decisions, comparing Huijsen's red card to a similar incident involving Íñigo Martínez that only resulted in a yellow card, fueling Real Madrid's distrust in the officiating body. Alonso acknowledged that while Huijsen’s foul was avoidable, the severity of the punishment significantly impacted the game, forcing Madrid to play most of the match with a man down yet still maintain their unbeaten start to the La Liga season. The episode has intensified ongoing tensions regarding refereeing standards affecting Real Madrid, with the club preparing to raise these concerns with FIFA. Despite the setback, Real Madrid showed resilience and determination to secure their fourth consecutive league win under challenging circumstances.