The referee unexpectedly commented on the 'verbal confrontation' between Vinicius and Simeone

It was not just a moment of agitation on the sidelines; the decision to issue a card in the 81st minute also involved details that surprised many.

The Spanish Super Cup semi-final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid ended with a 2-1 victory for Real, but the main controversy was off the pitch. The intense verbal clash between Vinicius Junior and coach Diego Simeone heated up the match atmosphere, forcing the referee to intervene with two yellow cards.

According to the match report released by referee Mateo Busquets, the incident took place in the 81st minute, at the moment Vinicius was about to be substituted. The “man in black” emphasized that both parties engaged in direct arguments, but did not cross the line into insults or threats, so the punishment was limited to warnings.

Specifically, Busquets clearly stated: “In the 81st minute, player number 7 Vinicius José was cautioned for arguing with a member of the opposing coaching staff, without any insulting or threatening language.” This key detail shows that the Real Madrid star’s behavior was considered a heated reaction, but not severe enough to warrant a sending off.

On the other hand, coach Diego Simeone was treated similarly. The referee’s report states: “In the 81st minute, coach Simeone González, Diego Pablo was cautioned for arguing with an opposing player, without any insulting or threatening conduct.” This confirms that the card decision was applied equally to both sides.

Although the report is brief, the actual events on the field were much more intense. According to Spanish media, Simeone was accused of continuously provoking Vinicius, even mentioning President Florentino Perez and urging the Brazilian forward to “listen” to the boos from the crowd whenever he touched the ball.

The climax occurred when Vinicius was substituted off for Arda Guler. The 2000-born star reacted strongly towards the Atletico technical area, forcing Xabi Alonso and several Real players to intervene. Referee Busquets Ferrer immediately issued yellow cards to both, closing one of the hottest moments of the match.

After the match, Simeone remained cold, saying “what happens on the pitch should stay on the pitch,” while Xabi Alonso openly expressed dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, the referee’s report has become an important basis clarifying that this was a mutual dispute, not crossing the line into more serious disciplinary action.

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