Referee report details two send-offs after Real Madrid vs Atletico tunnel row | OneFootball

The controversy surrounding the Madrid derby continued beyond the pitch, with the referee’s report revealing that a confrontation broke out in the tunnel at half-time and resulted in red cards for members of both coaching staffs.

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid were involved in a heated exchange on their way to the dressing rooms, with Antonio Rudiger and Morten Hjulmand identified as the players who helped spark the incident. 

The confrontation eventually led to Atletico goalkeeping coach Pablo Vercellone and one of Jose Mourinho’s assistants, Pedro Machado, being sent off.

The fallout also affected the start of the second half, which was delayed by five minutes because Real Madrid were late returning to the field.

Two coaches sent off after tunnel confrontation

As per Mundo Deportivo, the referee’s report provides the clearest account of what happened after the first 45 minutes.

Vercellone was dismissed for confronting a member of the Real Madrid coaching staff in the tunnel, with the referee stating that his actions helped trigger a wider confrontation between players and coaches from both teams.

The report stated: “In the 45th minute, the coach VERCELLONE GAMBARDELLA, IGNACIO PABLO, was sent off for the following reason: 

“For confronting a coach from the opposing team in the tunnel leading to the changing rooms, once the first half had ended, provoking a mass confrontation between players and coaching staff from both teams.”

Machado received an identical punishment from the other side of the confrontation.

The referee recorded, “In the 45th minute, the coach FERREIRA MACHADO, PEDRO LUIS, was sent off for the following reason: 

Rudiger was involved in an altercation with Hjulmand. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

“For confronting a coach from the opposing team in the tunnel leading to the changing rooms, once the first half had ended, causing a mass brawl between players and coaches from both teams.”

Rudiger and Hjulmand involved as tensions boil over

The tunnel incident came after an increasingly tense first half at the Metropolitano.

Rudiger and Hjulmand were involved in the events that preceded the confrontation, with tensions between the two camps spilling over once the players left the pitch.

The involvement of coaching staff meant the referee had little choice but to take disciplinary action before the teams returned for the second half. 

Both Vercellone and Machado were therefore forced to watch the remainder of the derby from outside the technical areas.