Sports

Simeone talks VAR, the Calderón before Celta Vigo tie

Madrid, Jul 6 (efe-epa).- Atlético de Madrid manager Diego Simeone on Monday said he believed Real Madrid were being awarded more penalties via VAR because they are an attacking team.

Real Madrid have benefited from several game-changing decisions in recent games, leading to some, including the president of Barcelona Josep Bartomeu, claiming that the technology is unfairly benefiting Zinedine Zidane’s team.

But on the eve of Atlético’s date with Celta de Vigo in LaLiga’s match day 35 action, Simeone told a press conference that he was “in no doubt that VAR is fairer for everyone, for those that win, because if you’re awarded a ton of penalties it’s because you spend more time in the rival’s penalty area”.

“Recently people have been talking about Real Madrid, it’s clear they are awarded more penalties because they attack more.

“I still believe there have to be some adjustments with VAR, but it picks up absolutely everything,” he added.

The debate around VAR arose again on Sunday when the video assistant referee system was consulted before a penalty was awarded to Real Madrid after Athletic Bilbao’s Raúl García was deemed to have trodden on Marcelo’s foot in the area.

Sergio Ramos converted the penalty to give Real Madrid their winning goal in the match.

But the Basque hosts later complained after Ramos appeared to tread on García’s foot in a similar incident in Real Madrid’s penalty area and no penalty was given.

In team news, Atlético’s Portuguese striker João Felix has been ruled out of the trip to Galicia on Tuesday with an ankle injury.

The manager said the 20-year-old would need time and space to match the high expectations that have followed him so far in his young career.

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